Money. Who can benefit from a death benefit?
To finance a loved one's funeral, it is possible to commit the deceased's funds by unlocking access to their bank account. Financial assistance can also be found through the pension funds and mutual insurance companies to which they were affiliated.
Finally, and most importantly, social security may pay a benefit, called death benefit, to beneficiaries.
Its purpose is not only to cover funeral expenses, but also to help people for whom the death has had a significant impact on their lifestyle.
What conditions?The aid is conditional on the deceased's situation in the three months preceding his death. He must have been either employed, or receiving compensation from France Travail, or receiving a disability pension or an occupational accident or illness pension.
He could also be a non-retired self-employed worker or a retired self-employed worker under specific conditions.
If there are multiple priority beneficiaries of the same rank, such as multiple children, the death benefit is shared equally between them. Photo Adobe Stock
The death benefit is paid in priority to the person who was effectively, totally and permanently dependent on the insured on the day of his death.
For example, a person without a job who was supported by the deceased. If there are several people in this situation, a hierarchical order imposes the spouse first, then the children and finally the descendants.
If there are multiple priority beneficiaries of the same rank, such as multiple children, the death benefit is shared equally between them. This order is the same if there is no priority beneficiary.
Payment of this allowance requires a request to be made to the primary health insurance fund. Photo Adobe Stock
The amount of the death benefit is revalued each year on April 1st and depends on the deceased's circumstances. In 2025, it will be €3,977 if the deceased was an employee and €9,420 if they were self-employed or receiving a disability pension.
What are the formalities?Payment of this allowance requires a request to be made to the primary health insurance fund (CPAM) by completing a form available online from the ameli website .
Additional documents may be required. The application must be submitted within two years of the date of death, but priority beneficiaries only have one month to apply.
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