Death and funeral costs
The death of a loved one is a difficult experience, which is also accompanied by administrative procedures that can sometimes be complex.
Funeral allowance is financial assistance intended to cover all or part of the costs associated with the funeral of a deceased person who was insured or co-insured in Luxembourg.
On this page, you will find:
- essential information on how to claim funeral allowance;
- the steps to be taken by family members after a death in order to ensure continued social security coverage.
Funeral allowance
The funeral allowance is intended to alleviate the financial burden associated with funeral expenses.
This section concerns:
- people who have paid funeral expenses in advance;
- relatives who wish to know whether a funeral allowance can be granted.
- Prerequisites
- Beneficiaries
- Practical steps
- Amount of funeral allowance
- Funeral expenses covered
What are the conditions to quality for the funeral allowance?
In the event of the death of an insured person in Luxembourg or a co-insured family member, a funeral allowance is paid.
To be entitled to this allowance, the deceased must:
- either have been insured themselves and have paid contributions in Luxembourg,
- or have been insured as a co-insured person under the health insurance scheme (=dependent family member).
Who is the funeral allowance paid to?
The funeral allowance is paid up to the amount of the costs incurred to the person or institution that paid the costs upfront or, if a public body has commissioned the funeral provider, directly to the latter.
Any balance remaining is paid in the following order: to the spouse, children, father and mother, brothers and sisters, provided that these persons lived in the same household as the insured.
How do I claim the funeral allowance?
If I have advanced funeral expenses for a deceased person who was insured, all I have to do is send the CNS by post:
- duly paid and receipted invoices,
- the death certificate,
- a bank identity statement (relevé d'identité bancaire RIB) of the beneficiary of the funeral allowance,
- proof of payment.
Payment will be made to the account of the person named as the ‘instructing party’ (donneur d'ordre) on the proof of payment.
What is the amount of the funeral allowance?
In the event of the death of an insured person or a co-insured family member, a lump-sum funeral allowance of €1,258.45 is paid.
This funeral allowance is also paid if the child is stillborn. A stillborn child is defined as a child born viable and non-living. A child is presumed to be viable if, according to the medical certificate, the gestation period has lasted more than 22 weeks since conception.
In the event of the death of an insured person during in-patient treatment abroad, duly authorised by the CNS with an S2 form, the health insurance scheme will contribute to the repatriation of the mortal remains from the place of treatment to the place of stay, up to a lump sum of currently €1,258.45.
What funeral expenses are taken into account for the funeral allowance?
- The coffin and customary funeral decorations (chapelle ardente, wreath),
- a wreath of flowers,
- transport of the coffin and flowers,
- opening and closing the grave,
- religious burial and funeral service,
- cremation,
- the usual funeral notices published in the press,
- communal fees and taxes.
Steps to be taken by family members
Following the death of an insured person, the insurance status of family members must be reviewed in order to avoid any interruption of rights.
This section mainly concerns the surviving spouse and co-insured children.
- Co-insurance and affiliation
- Temporary maintenance of coverage
- Survival pension (CNAP)
- In summary
End of co-insurance and situation after death
Co-insurance automatically ends upon the death of the main insured person.
It does not automatically continue for the surviving spouse or for children who were co-insured.
Upon death, the insurance situation of family members must therefore be reviewed.
The CNS is available to provide further information by email or telephone.
Maintaining coverage while a survival/orphan pension is being assessed
While awaiting the decision of the National Pension Insurance Office (CNAP) (or the relevant foreign pension fund), certain steps may need to be taken to avoid any interruption in coverage.
Depending on the situation:
- the surviving spouse, if they are not in employment or do not have their own pension, may apply for membership or a temporary extension of coverage;
- for children, it may be necessary to apply for co-insurance with the other parent until the CNAP has made its decision.
The CNS will discuss the possibility of a temporary solution with you.
After the CNAP's decision, the insurance situation will be adjusted according to the rights granted, particularly when the survival pension is awarded retroactively.
Survival pension (CNAP)
The death of an insured person may give rise to entitlement to a survival pension, in particular for the surviving spouse and, where applicable, for the children (orphan's pension).
This pension is not granted automatically and must be applied for from the National Pension Insurance Office (CNAP).
Important: applying for or reviewing a survival pension does not have an immediate effect on CNS membership. Co-insurance ceases upon the death of the main insured person.
Pending the CNAP's decision, specific steps may be necessary to avoid an interruption in coverage.
Summary – After a death
After the death of an insured person, it is recommended that you:
- check the insurance status of family members;
- take the necessary steps to avoid any interruption in coverage;
- if applicable, submit an application for a survival pension to the CNAP;
- claim funeral allowance if funeral expenses have been paid in advance.
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