Funeral benefit - what size and how to apply for it

Who will receive the funds and when?

Both close relatives and other persons who are not related to him or her by blood can receive benefits that are issued for the burial of the deceased. The only condition is to undertake the obligation to organize the funeral. This is regulated in Art. 10, paragraph 1 of Law No. 8 of January 12, 1996.

To receive a state-guaranteed payment, you must apply for accrual within no more than 6 months from the date of death. Funds are issued to the applicant on the day of application. If you violate the procedure and apply after six months from the date of death, then payments will not be made. It is also impossible to receive benefits if there are no documents required by law, for example, a death certificate, or they are incorrectly executed.

What is a funeral benefit?

Funeral payments are represented by sums of money that are paid one-time to the relatives of the deceased to cover expenses associated with the burial. The money is allocated by the state or employer.

The main purpose of this benefit is to cover funeral expenses. At the same time, government officials do not track where exactly the funds received are sent, since they are usually of a compensatory nature.

Recipients of the payment can be not only relatives or representatives of the deceased, but also other citizens who have undertaken to organize the funeral.

Where to get benefits

The social status of the deceased citizen determines the institution to which one should apply for the issuance of benefits for the funeral of the deceased. The table shows the organizations and under what conditions documents should be submitted there to process the payment of funds.

The benefit can be issued in cash or transferred to any bank account that the applicant indicates in his application. When choosing a non-cash transfer of funds, when writing an application, the citizen indicates the bank details where the payment should be transferred. This can be any debit card account.

How to arrange payment and payment procedure?

“Funeral benefits, how much do they give and how to get them?” - questions to which the first person who has spent their own energy and money on funeral services should know the answers. If a person takes responsibility for organizing a funeral, he needs to collect a number of documents and apply to the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation within 6 months from the date of death of the deceased.

Necessary documents and certificates: identity card (passport), original death certificate of a person, a document indicating that the person did not work and received pension accruals (needed if a pensioner has died). Along with this list of documents, you need to write a statement requesting benefits.

There are several sources from which compensation can be paid to the person responsible for the burial. If the deceased Russian worked, then the employer may pay for funeral services. If a person did not work and did not receive a pension, then the funeral services are paid for by the social security authority.

If a person had insurance and was registered as an insurer, then compensation is transferred by the Social Insurance Fund. If a pensioner passes away and there is a person who organized the funeral, then the cash benefit is paid by the territorial (regional) Pension Fund.

What papers to prepare

To receive payment for organizing a funeral or compensation after it is carried out, you must collect the following documents:

• free-form application for social benefits;
• death certificate issued by the civil registry office in the original;
• work book, upon confirmation of the fact of employment as of the date of death;
• the applicant's personal passport or a document replacing it.

There is no need to confirm any expenses incurred during the burial of the deceased. In addition to social benefits, the employer has the right to award relatives financial assistance or other types of payments provided for in this organization. Such assistance can be provided both to the family, relatives of the deceased employee himself, and to those employees who have lost their blood loved ones. The decision on this type of material support is made by the owner, founder or meeting of shareholders.

Additional documents that may be needed when applying for social benefits for funerals:

1. If the deceased citizen did not work, but did not receive a pension, then a certificate from the Pension Fund is required confirming the absence of pension payments, as well as a certificate from the place of residence of the deceased person.
2. In the event of the death of a minor child, you will need copies of the passports of the parents or guardians, and in the case where they do not officially work, but have work books on hand, then copies of the books.
3. When burying persons without a fixed place of residence, you must obtain a certificate from the cemetery administration indicating the location and number of the burial.

Documents required to receive funeral benefits

To receive a funeral benefit, you must provide a package of documents including:

• death certificate;
• passport or other document proving the identity of the applicant;
• work book or other document confirming the fact that the deceased was not employed on the day of death (for the Pension Fund of the Russian Federation or the Social Security Administration);
• bank details of the credit institution (if necessary), account number;
• statement.

If the deceased was not employed at the time of death and did not receive a pension, then it is necessary to provide certificates from the place of residence and the Pension Fund confirming this fact. If the deceased was a minor, then additionally you need to attach copies of his parents’ passports; if they are not employed, copies of their work records are also submitted.

For persons without a fixed place of residence, it is necessary to obtain a certificate from the cemetery with the number of the burial place.

Amount of social payment for 2021

The amount paid for funeral expenses is established by Law No. 8 of January 12, 1996. It is 4,000 rubles, but is indexed annually on February 1 by the inflation coefficient adopted and approved by the Government of the Russian Federation for the previous year. For 2021, the payment amount was at the level of 5,701.31 rubles, and from February 2019 - 5,946.47 rubles.

If an increasing regional coefficient is applied in the area where the deceased lived, it will be taken into account. The one-time subsidy will be calculated as follows:

5,946.47 * District coefficient = Final payment.

For example, for residents of Chukotka the regional coefficient is 2.0, which means that they pay 11,892.94 rubles for burial there.

Death benefits for military pensioners

The funeral benefit for a military pensioner is regulated by Article 11 of Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 12, 1996. The provisions of this law also apply to deceased internal affairs employees, firefighters, customs officers, those killed in military service and veterans of service.

Fact

To receive benefits for the funeral of a veteran, as well as a military pensioner and other categories established by the legislator, you should go to the military registration and enlistment office and the relevant executive bodies where the deceased served.

Regional surcharges

In addition to the generally accepted regional coefficient, there is such a thing as regional payments. They are set by local authorities based on budgetary capabilities, living standards and expenses of the population in the area.

For example, for the burial of a veteran of the Great Patriotic War who lived in Moscow, an additional payment to the relatives of the deceased can reach 38,400 rubles. This maximum amount was approved by the City Government. For other Muscovites, the additional payment is about 11,000 rubles.

Regional surcharges can be fixed or indexed to the inflation factor, just like state benefits. If local authorities do not have a sufficient budget to provide such subsidies, then residents will receive only the amount established by Law No. 8 of January 12, 1996, taking into account the indexation adopted at the current time.

New payment amount

So, in order to avoid depreciation of the amount of benefits, current legislation provides for a mechanism for indexing this benefit by the indexation coefficient established by the Government of the Russian Federation. The new coefficient, effective from February 1, 2021, is set at 1.025 (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 26, 2018 No. 74 “On approval of the amount of indexation of payments, benefits and compensation in 2021”).

For more information about this, see “The size of the indexation coefficient for 2018.”

In addition, if we are talking about regions of the Far North and equivalent areas, the amount of the benefit increases by the corresponding regional coefficient.

Let us remind you that the basic amount of benefits or the cost of funeral services is 4,000 rubles. However, the indexation of the funeral benefit in 2021 is not done by applying a new coefficient to the base amount, but by multiplying it by the last indexed value of the payment. So, from February 1, 2021, after many years of recalculations, it is 5,562.25 rubles. (the last time the payment was indexed by 5.4% (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 26, 2017 No. 88 <On approval of the amount of indexation of payments, benefits and compensation in 2021>).

From February 1, 2021, benefits are indexed by a factor of 1.025 (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 26, 2018 No. 74 “On approval of the amount of indexation of payments, benefits and compensation in 2021”). Therefore, the amount of the funeral benefit in 2021 will be 5,740.24 rubles . (5,562.25 × 1.025).

Who else can receive benefits?

The benefit for organizing a funeral will not be paid to relatives or other persons if they were provided with a list of services free of charge by a specialized funeral organization.

Such procedures include:

• preparation and execution of papers for funerals;
• delivery and receipt of a coffin and other attributes for the burial of the deceased in a cemetery;
• transporting the body to a cemetery or crematorium;
• burial of remains or urns with ashes.

The quality of services provided by specialized funeral services is controlled by local authorities. Prices for this list of funeral services are fixed, and compensation to the institutions that carry out the burial is carried out within ten days after the funeral. In this case, the payment amount is also 5,746.47 rubles, taking into account the regional coefficient.

In cases where the organization of a funeral must be carried out on an emergency basis, it is not always possible to collect the amount or all the papers in order to receive government assistance. Then you can get a credit card and spend money from it. But when paying for all services during burial, you should remember that amounts spent in excess of the amount established by the state will not be compensated.

about the author

Klavdiya Treskova - higher education with qualification “Economist”, with specializations “Economics and Management” and “Computer Technologies” at PSU. She worked in a bank in positions from operator to acting. Head of the Department for servicing private and corporate clients. Every year she successfully passed certifications, education and training in banking services. Total work experience in the bank is more than 15 years. [email protected]

Is this article useful? Not really

Help us find out how much this article helped you. If something is missing or the information is not accurate, please report it below in the comments or write to us by email

Benefit amount in 2021

From 02/01/2021, the amount of the funeral benefit for a pensioner is 6,424.98 rubles. In accordance with the norms of Federal Law No. 8-FZ of January 12, 1996, it is annually indexed to the inflation rate or higher (the index is established by the government). All unemployed Russian citizens are entitled to receive this social benefit. This is the federal basic amount; in some regions of the Russian Federation, additional compensation for the funeral of a pensioner is established, which is paid simultaneously with the federal part. Thus, relatives of deceased non-working elderly citizens of retirement age will receive:

• in Moscow - 18,470.98 rubles. (additional payment 12,046 rubles);
• in St. Petersburg - 9945 rubles. at burial and 12,353 rubles. during cremation;
• in the Moscow region - federal payment and additional payment for low-income families.

In areas where a regional coefficient has been established, the amount of payment is determined using this coefficient. If the deceased had an additional preferential status, for example, a veteran of the Great Patriotic War or a liquidator of the Chernobyl accident, his relatives will receive increased compensation, the amount of which depends on the status.

Instead of a monetary payment, the applicant has the right to request that a social funeral be organized for the deceased. In this case, compensation is not paid, but a set set of accessories and ritual services is provided. The choice of how to receive help is made at the time of application.

Comments: 0

Your comment (question) If you have questions about this article, you can tell us. Our team consists of only experienced experts and specialists with specialized education. We will try to help you in this topic:

Author of the article: Klavdiya Treskova

Consultant, author Popovich Anna

Financial author Olga Pikhotskaya

Who is eligible for funeral benefits in 2021

The right to social benefits for funerals is enshrined in Federal Law No. 8-FZ dated January 12, 1996 as one of the main guarantees provided to Russian citizens by state authorities.
According to Article 9 of the Federal Law of January 12, 1996 No. 8-FZ “On Burial and Funeral Business,” funeral benefits are paid if citizens have taken upon themselves the obligation to bury the deceased.

The following are entitled to receive funeral benefits:

• spouses,
• close relatives,
• other relatives
• legal representatives of the deceased,
• other persons who have taken upon themselves the responsibility to carry out the burial of the deceased.

How to get a funeral benefit

The benefit is issued to a citizen on the day when he applies to government authorities with a corresponding application.

A citizen can submit an application and additional documents in person, through a representative or through the government services website.

Funeral benefits are issued to citizens by the following authorized bodies:

• pension authorities where the deceased received a pension;
• organization or other employer acting as an insurer for compulsory social insurance in connection with disability or maternity:

• of the deceased person on the day of his death,
• one of his relatives
• another family member of a deceased minor on the day of death of this minor;

• social protection authorities, if the deceased was not subject to compulsory insurance or in the event of a stillbirth after 154 days of pregnancy;
• territorial bodies of the insurance fund.

According to Article 9 of Federal Law 8-FZ “On Burial and Funeral Business,” persons who have undertaken the organization of the funeral may be provided free of charge by a specialized funeral service with guaranteed burial services. When using these services, social benefits for funerals will not be paid.

Attention! The benefit will not be paid if the applicant has previously used the free burial service. Also, if he received a funeral benefit, he will not be able to install a tombstone for free.