A bereavement of a loved one is heart breaking for family and friends and those left behind can find it extremely difficult to come to terms with their loss, both on a personal level and at times on a practical and financial level.
There are many organisations there to support individuals and families in these difficult times:
Bereavement Counselling Service
The Bereavement Counselling Service offers support and counselling to enable people to deal with grief including dealing with the loss of a spouse or partner, grieving the death of a child, a child’s grief and people with disabilities and dealing with death by suicide.
A Little Lifetime Foundation is the voice for bereaved parents and their families across Ireland. Their aim is to promote healthy grieving and bring understanding and hope when a baby dies at any stage of pregnancy, during or after birth.
The Rainbows programme supports children and young people affected by loss because of bereavement, separation or divorce. The service is available in local communities throughout Ireland and is grant aided by Tusla.
After a bereavement, it can be very difficult to pick up the pieces and move on.
Individuals can find that they also need financial support as well as emotional support and many people are not aware that you may be entitled to some financial support.
There are several schemes that may be applicable to your personal circumstances:
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension
The Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension is payable to widowed people or surviving civil partners without dependent children who do not qualify for a contributory pension and who pass a means test.
Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant
Outlines the rules, regulations and application procedure for the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant which is paid to people with dependent children.
Social welfare payments following a death
Some social welfare payments can continue after someone dies. That is, where someone who was getting a certain social welfare payment dies, their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may get 6 weeks of this payment after the death.
Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension
A Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's contributory pension and related social welfare benefits may be payable if either the deceased person or their spouse/civil partner has enough PRSI contributions.
Guardian's and orphan's payments
If you are taking care of an orphan, you may get a social welfare payment. It is not necessary to be a legally appointed guardian. You may get such a payment if the orphan lives with you and you are responsible for his or her care. The payment must benefit the orphan.
Special Funeral Grant
If someone dies at work, a special Funeral Grant is available under the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme.
To find out more about the above schemes, please follow the link:
Any qualified member of a Credit Union is entitled to receive payment from the Death Benefit scheme. Further details may be obtained from your local Credit Union.
*NB The information on this page is subject to change and should not be viewed upon as financial advice.