Dept of Social and Family Affairs Death Grant - €850
This is payable on the death of a qualified person, or the spouse or child (under 18 or 22 if in full-time education) of a qualified person. A qualified person must have contributed at least 156 weekly (i.e. 3 years) PRSI contributions since entry into employment. The contributions do not have to continuous payments.
To apply, a bereavement grant application form must be completed. This form is obtainable by post from the Bereavement Death Grant Section in Longford (phone 1890 500 000), or it can be downloaded from the Department’s website at http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/bg1.pdf. This form, together with a copy of the death certificate and the funeral invoice, which must be in the name of the person making the application, must be sent back to Longford. Allow 6 – 9 weeks for the cheque of €850 to be issued to the applicant.
Death of Social Welfare Recipient – Six weeks Further Payments
When a person passes away while in receipt of a social welfare payment, the payment will usually continue to be paid to the surviving partner/carer for six weeks after the date of death if they are a named dependent/carer. Contact your local social welfare office for more information, For old age state pension matters please phone the helpline at 1890 500 000.
Health Board Death Grant – from €500 to €2500
A person applying for this grant must be in receipt of a social welfare payment. This funeral grant is means-tested and is payable at the discretion of the community welfare officer (CWO). An application form may be obtained in the applicant’s local health centre. The CWO will then consider the status and means of the applicant and the deceased. The funeral invoice must be in the name of the applicant and all relevant details provided. A cheque, if issued, will then be made payable directly to the funeral director.
Widowed Parent Grant - €6000
If at the date when a parent is widowed, there are children left in the family under 18 years, or 22 years and in full-time education, then the widowed parent will receive a widow/widower’s grant of €6000. Please phone 1890 500 000 for more information.
Other grants are available in certain circumstances. Please visit http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/DeathAndBereavement/Pages/default.aspx to obtain more information.