Apply for the funeral costs to be covered

In the event of a death, the relatives of the deceased person usually have to take care of the funeral and bear the costs for the time being if the estate or other funds, such as from a death benefit insurance policy, are not sufficient or not sufficient in full to cover the funeral costs.

Who is obliged to pay the funeral costs is regulated by law. These may be the following persons:

• Contractually obligated persons
• Heirs
• Dependent
• Persons obligated to burial according to the public burial law of the federal states

If you are obliged to bear the costs of a funeral but are not in a financial position to do so, you can apply to the relevant social welfare office to have the costs covered. The social welfare office will then check to what extent you can reasonably be expected to bear the costs.

The social welfare office covers the costs of a simple, appropriate and dignified burial. This includes the reasonable cost of the coffin, mortuary and grave fees as well as the cost of laying out the grave. This also applies to urn burials. The costs of hospitality for mourners, for example, are not covered.

The social welfare office that provided social assistance for the deceased person until their death is responsible. However, if the deceased person did not receive social assistance, the social welfare office in whose area the place of death is located is responsible. If a person with German nationality who was not receiving social assistance dies abroad, responsibility depends on the individual case.

• § Section 74 of the Twelfth Book of the Social Code (SGB XII)

Various documents or information are required for the application. These include, for example

• Funeral order, invoice from the funeral director
• Fee notice from the cemetery office
• Will or contract of inheritance
• Death certificate
• List of the estate with supporting documents, in particular savings books, current account statements of the deceased for the last three months, life insurance policies or death insurance policies
• Proof of the applicant's income and assets, including payslips and current account statements for the last three months
• Proof of charges, in particular rent, insurance, business expenses, credit obligations
• Information on relatives of the deceased

The required documents will be copied after submission.

In individual cases, further evidence may be required for processing.

• You are obliged to pay the funeral costs.
• Neither the estate of the deceased person nor other funds received as a result of the death, such as insurance payouts, cover the funeral costs.
• They cannot bear the costs or cannot bear them in full from their own resources or they cannot be expected to bear the funeral costs or cannot be expected to bear them in full.
• The costs for the funeral are reasonable.
   

If you wish to apply for funeral expenses assistance:

• Submit an application to the responsible social welfare provider to have the costs covered.
• If necessary, you must ask the responsible social welfare provider which costs will be covered in individual cases before commissioning the funeral director,
• The social assistance provider will check the documents you have submitted and your income and financial circumstances.
• You will receive a notification of approval if all requirements are met.

• Application for payment of funeral costs
• Declaration on the determination of the obligor(s) within the meaning of Section 74 SGB XII