Funeral Grants Available in Ireland

Support Available Following a Loved One's Passing

Following the death of a loved one, individuals or families may need financial support to help with funeral costs. At Private Cremation, our caring and compassionate team are committed to supporting families during this challenging time.

Financial Support and Bereavement Benefits

With the unprecedented cost of living crisis majorly influencing our decisions today, you want to ensure people and family are receiving the dignity they deserve.

We pride ourselves on guiding and caring for families throughout their financial assistance application process and hopefully reducing emotional and financial stress being passed on to the family members.

Social Welfare Payment After Death

There are several social welfare payments available:  

When someone who was getting a social welfare payment dies, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may get 6 weeks of this payment after the death. It will be paid at the same weekly rate your late spouse, civil partner or cohabitant was getting.

If the deceased was getting social welfare benefits or you were claiming for them as a dependant or you were getting a Carer's Allowance to look after them, it's important that you notify the Department within the first few days of the death. 

Financial Support for Funeral Expenses

There are several bereavement benefits offered by the  Department of Social Protection:

  • Support towards funeral costs

  • Payments for widowed & surviving civil partners

  • Payments for parents or guardians of dependant children

  • Payments if someone dies because of work

    Please refer to the specific bereavement benefits sections below for more details. Should you need more information, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Supplementary Welfare Schemes

The Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme consists of a basic payment, called the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, and other financial supplements for certain expenses you may not be able to meet, including emergency situations. 

Community Welfare Service & Bereavement Payments

Community Welfare Officers (CWO) are responsible for the day to day administration of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme in your local Community Welfare Service.

Grants & Payments Specific Bereavement

There are various grants and payments available to assist with bereavement-related expenses in Ireland. They are:

  • Additional Needs Payment

  • Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant

  • Special Funeral Grant 

  • Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension

  • Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension

  • Guardian's and Orphan's Payments

  • One-Parent Family Payment

  • Continuation of Social Welfare Payments

  • Credit Union Death Benefit Insurance

Additional Needs Payment

Whether you qualify or not for one of the above grants you may be eligible for an Additional Needs Payment to help with funeral costs if you are on a low income. 

Each case is decided on its merits. The Community Welfare Service prefers if you apply before the funeral takes place, but in practice, most people apply afterwards. 

In many cases a payment or a grant cannot be paid until all the necessary documentation is received. If you are claiming the grant, you are responsible for the production of certificates, documents and any information required, for example:

  • Death certificate

  • Birth certificate

  • Marriage or Civil Partnership certificate (to prove your relationship to the deceased)

  • Funeral receipts

  • The deceased person's Personal Public Service (PPS) number

  • Your PPS number may also be required

If you were living with or dependent on the deceased, any current benefits or payments you are getting may change, or you may be able to claim additional benefits. Depending on your income and circumstances you may be entitled to a social welfare payment in your own right.

Support will only be provided towards the requirements for a dignified funeral. You should consult with Private Cremation before making any financial commitment on funeral arrangement costs.

Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant

The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant is a once-off payment to widows, 

widowers or surviving civil partners with dependent children.

If your spouse or civil partner has died and you have dependant children under 18 (or under 22 if they are in full time education) you may qualify.

You may also qualify for this grant if you are eligible for certain social welfare benefits. You do not qualify for this payment if you and your partner were cohabiting.

Additionally, you must also qualify for one of the following payments:

This grant is a once-off payment of €8,000 Application form WPG1, visit the Department website for more information.

Private Cremation will also endeavour to provide as much assistance as we can to help guide and navigate you through the Grant process.

Special Funeral Grant 

If someone dies at work, a Special Funeral Grant is available under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme.

To be eligible for this grant, the death must have resulted from:

  • An accident at work, an accident while travelling directly to or from work,  or an occupational disease.

  • The person must have paid a minimum of one week's PRSI contributions.

This special funeral grant is paid under the Occupational Injuries Benefits scheme and may be available to the person who pays the funeral expenses. Special Funeral Grant: €850

Death Benefits Scheme

The Death Benefit Scheme includes:

  • Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension

  • Orphan's Pension

  • Funeral Grants

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension

The Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension may be available to you if you are a surviving spouse or civil partner of a person who:

  • Died as a result of an accident at work.

  • Died as a result of an occupational disease.

  • Was getting Disablement Benefit assessed as 50% or more at the time of their death.

A Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension under the Death Benefit Scheme cannot be paid at the same time as a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension.

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension

A Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension is a means-tested payment payable to widowed people or surviving civil partners who does not qualify for a contributory Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner’s payment. 

It is a payment for widows, widowers or surviving civil partners who do not have dependent children. People with dependent children should apply for the One-Parent Family Payment.

This is a means-tested payment for widows, widowers or surviving civil partners aged under 66 who do not have dependent children and who do not qualify for the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension. 

At the age of 66 you transfer to the State Pension (Non-Contributory).

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension

A Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension is a weekly payment to widowed people or surviving civil partners of a deceased person. Either you or your deceased spouse or civil partner must have enough social insurance contributions (PRSI).

You may automatically qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension if your late spouse or civil partner was getting a State Pension (Contributory) which included:

To qualify you must, of course, be a widow, widower or surviving civil partner and you must not be cohabiting with another person.

Guardian's and Orphan's Payments

If you are taking care of an orphan, you may get a social welfare payment. It is not necessary to be a legally appointed guardian. 

You may get such a payment if the orphan lives with you and you are responsible for his or her care. The payment must benefit the orphan.

If an orphan is attending a full-time education course, is aged between 18 & 22 years of age and is not living with or in the care of a guardian, the payment can be paid directly to the orphan.

The payment can be contributory (based on PRSI payments paid by the parent) or non-contributory (based on a means-test).

You can claim only one of the following:

  • Guardian's Payment (Contributory)

  • Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) 

  • Death Benefit/Orphan's Pension awarded under the Occupational Injuries Scheme.

One-Parent Family Payment

A One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) can be paid to you if you are parenting alone as a result of the death of your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant. This is a means-tested payment. 

If you also qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension you will have to choose which payment is of most benefit to you because you cannot get both. 

You may be able to claim the OFP for up to two years after the date of their death or until your youngest child turns 18, whichever is earlier. If you get Domiciliary Care Allowance for the child, you can get OFP until the child turns 16. 

If you apply for OFP after your spouse, partner or civil partner has died, an exception is made on the age limits & you can get the payment for up to two years from the date of death, but only until your youngest child turns 18.

Continuation of Social Welfare Payments

If a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant dies while they are receiving a Social Welfare payment,  they will usually continue to be paid to the surviving partner/carer for 6 weeks after the death if they are a named dependent/carer.

Contact the section responsible for the payment within the Department of Social Protection or Community Welfare Officer as soon as possible following the death for more information or your nearest Citizens Information Centre. 

You can also phone the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0818 07 4000. For State Pension matters please phone the helpline in Sligo at 1890 500 000 or Dublin (01) 704 3000 - Pension Section Department.

Credit Union Death Benefit Insurance

Any qualified member of a Credit Union is entitled to receive payment from the Death Benefit scheme. The minimum benefit offered is €1,300 and the maximum is €3250 in the Republic of Ireland. Further details may be obtained from your local Credit Union on the qualifying conditions. 

This scheme is operated by the majority of credit unions in Ireland. If the death occurs of a current member of a credit union, who had joined between the ages of 16 and 70, they may be entitled to the Death Benefit Scheme.

Once you are included for DBI you will continue to be insured as long as you remain a member of the credit union and a premium is paid each year. This will be the case even if your health worsens and as long as your credit union keeps the service in place. 

Note the lump sum payable and amount of savings required in your account can change from year to year, so please check with your credit union.

We’re Here to Help

At Private Cremation, we understand the importance of compassion and guidance during difficult times. Our team is always available to support you with any questions or concerns, so please contact us.