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Social assistance; application for the assumption of funeral costs

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  • Brief description

    The necessary costs of a funeral will be covered by the Social Welfare Office on application if the person obliged to do so cannot reasonably be expected to bear the costs.

  • Description

    Burial is compulsory in Germany.

    As a relative or next of kin of the deceased person, you must take care of the funeral in accordance with the statutory order of precedence and bear the costs incurred. You can claim the costs incurred from the heirs or other parties liable to pay if you are not one of them.

    The Social Welfare Office will cover the necessary costs of a funeral if you, as a person with a legal obligation, cannot reasonably be expected to bear the costs, in particular due to your financial circumstances (income and assets). In any case, the heirs must be expected to use the estate to cover the funeral costs.

    The necessary costs for a dignified, simple burial in accordance with local conditions, including all fees, are covered. However, only those costs that are directly related to the burial (including the initial preparation of the grave) or are inseparably linked to the burial are to be covered. This includes in particular the costs for

    • the post-mortem examination
    • the transportation of corpses
    • a coffin with simple furnishings and a pillow and blanket set
    • the dressing and coffining of the corpse
    • the burial costs of the municipality (this also includes the grave fees for a simple row grave. This also applies if the deceased is buried in an existing family grave and this results in higher subsequent costs); mortuary fees
    • simple flower arrangements or coffin bouquet
    • the initial creation of the grave and initial planting
    • a simple grave cross or a simple gravestone (if expressly prescribed by the cemetery statutes)

    Cremation is also possible instead of burial, in which case the following additional costs will be covered to a reasonable extent:

    • Costs for transporting the body to the crematorium
    • Costs of cremation
    • Urn
    • Grave fees for a simple urn grave

    The special features of a funeral of other faiths are respected. The costs for special religious features will be covered to an appropriate extent.

    It is not possible to cover the costs of services that go beyond this and must be rejected by the social welfare office. In this case, you must bear the costs yourself. Among other things, the costs for

    • an obituary, acknowledgements
    • the funeral feast
    • Services provided by the funeral director, insofar as these can be reasonably expected of the obligor
    • Death pictures
    • Ongoing grave maintenance
    • Mourning clothes

    Repatriation costs may be covered if this is justified by the particular circumstances of the individual case; this does not apply in principle to repatriation abroad.

    Responsible social welfare office

    If the deceased person was a recipient of social welfare benefits, the social welfare institution that paid social welfare benefits to the deceased person during their lifetime is responsible.

    In all other cases, the social welfare office in whose area the place of death is located is responsible (this also applies if the deceased was receiving unemployment benefit II).

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

    You will find the following applications and templates under Forms:

    • Application for social assistance_ 2 persons.
    • Application for social assistance_ other persons.
    • Bank information.
    • Information sheet.
    • Rental certificate.
    • Home ownership questionnaire.

  • Prerequisites

    • You are obliged to pay the funeral costs.
      The following are legally obliged:
      • Contractually obligated parties, e.g. from a retirement portion or from a notarized contract
      • Heirs
      • Fathers of illegitimate children in the event of the mother's death as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, also for the costs of the funeral of the stillborn child or a miscarriage
      • Dependent spouse, parents and children of the deceased
      • Persons subject to a public-law funeral obligation who have fulfilled a funeral order in fulfillment of a public-law funeral obligation in accordance with the Funeral Act. In appropriate order: spouses, children / adopted children, parents / adoptive parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, nephews / nieces, 1st degree in-laws
    • The deceased person has not left a sufficient estate.
    • They cannot cover the costs of the funeral from their own resources.
    • The costs are appropriate in terms of social welfare law.
    • You are actually charged with the costs due to a contract for work concluded with the funeral home or a performance notice issued by the competent regulatory authority.

  • Deadlines

    You can submit the application before or after the funeral. If possible, discuss the assumption of costs with the responsible authority beforehand, as only the necessary costs can be assumed, as mentioned above.

  • Required documents

    The required documents can be found on the respective application form. As a rule, the following documents/information are required:

    Proof/information on the deceased person:

    • Death certificate
    • Information/documents on life/death insurance
    • List of the estate with proof of assets
    • if available: Will or contract of inheritance
    • List of possible heirs and family members of the deceased person (e.g. spouse; registered partner; children; parents, grandchildren, grandparents).


    Evidence from the applicant:

    • If available: Certificate of inheritance or proof of inheritance
    • Copies of the type and amount of income for the last three months
    • Proof of financial circumstances
    • Proof of monthly charges
    • Tenancy agreement and last declaration of rent increase by the landlord or landlady (current rent amount)
    • if you submit the application after the funeral: Original invoice from the funeral home

  • Forms

    Special information for - District of Bad Tölz Wolfratshausen

  • Legal basis

  • Procedure

    You must apply in writing to the responsible social welfare provider for the funeral costs to be covered. You will usually receive a corresponding application form from them.

    If the competent authority approves your application, payment will be made either to you or, with your express consent, directly to the funeral home.


Responsible departments