Benefits and Entitlements Following a Death
After a bereavement you may need financial support. The Department of Social Protection provides certain once-off payments to help out families during this difficult time. Your local Department of Social Protection’s representative (formerly known as the Community Welfare Officer) deals with some of these payments.
Current details of payments available and the rules to be applicable for these grants are outlined on the Citizens Information website.
You can also get full information and download the required forms from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection using the following link.
You cannot be expected to do everything right away, but if the deceased was getting a social welfare payment 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 of Social Protection within the first few days of the death.
Notifying the Department does not mean the payment will be taken back immediately. In many cases, the spouse, civil partner, cohabitant, parent or carer may continue to receive a payment for six weeks following the death.