BEREAVEMENT GRANTS

Bereavement Grants are available for values of up to €9,350.00. We are pleased to offer advice and guidance regarding eligibility, etc. Please feel free to phone us for a free information leaflet (prices correct at time of print).

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 or 071 915 7100 for more information. For details of eligibility and applications form WPG1 please visit http://www.welfare.ie/en/schemes/deathandbereavement/pages/widowedparentgrant.aspx or contact:

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension Section
Department of Social Protection
Pensions Services Offices
College Road
Sligo
Ireland

Tel: (071) 915 7100
Locall: 1890 500 000

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 in Sligo at 1890 500 000 or Dublin (01) 704 3000.

Credit Union Death Benefit Insurance – from €1300 - €3250

The main purpose of this insurance is to provide basic life cover to Credit Union members at an affordable price. The cover is offered as a rider (or endorsements) to the Life Savings insurance policy. The actual amount of insurance may vary from one credit union to the other. There are a number of conditions applied to this cover which should be discussed with your local Credit Union Branch. The minimum benefit offered is €1300 and the maximum is €3250. Members are eligible for this insurance provided premiums have been paid and the member is (a) over 16 years of age, (b) has joined the Credit Union before 70 years of age, (c) has remained a member of the Credit Union, (d) the member has been eligible for cover in the Life Savings Policy.

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

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.

WHEN A DEATH OCCURS IN NURSING HOME, HOSPICE OR HOSPITAL.

The doctor will be called to confirm that the death has occured. In most cases a Post Mortem is not required and the family can contact their funeral director who will liaise with the hospital or nursing home on their behalf.
WHEN A DEATH OCCURS AT HOME

If the death was unexpected, the GP should be contacted first and may advise that the family contact the local Garda Station, as the Gardai may wish to contact the Coroner. If the death was expected, the deceased will have been attended to by their GP who should be contacted first as they will be required to visit the home to confirm that the death has occurred. The funeral director can then be called but cannot proceed until the death has been confirmed by the doctor.
It will be useful to have considered the following questions and your funeral director will assist you in making these decisions.

Where would you prefer to hold the funeral service in a Church or a Funeral Home or a Crematorium Chapel? Will you require any musicians for the funeral service? Will you require a limousine or a number of limousines for the day of the funeral? Will your preference be for burial or cremation? Will the deceased repose in a Funeral Home, a Residence or a Hospital, Hospice or Nursing Home Mortuary Chapel? Will the death notice be published on local radio, on RIP.ie or in a newspaper? Would you like to pass the house on the way to the church or cemetery? Will the family carry the coffin on the day of the funeral and if so, who will be the six bearers? What clothes will be selected for the deceased to wear during reposing?

​BEREAVEMENT GRANTS