Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
551. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which bereavement support applications have been approved in the past 12 months; the degree to which the demand has grown; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5575/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Bereavement Grant, which was a payment of €850 made where the deceased or his/her surviving partner was an insured contributor to the social insurance fund, was discontinued and is not paid for deaths occurring on or after 1 January 2014.
However there are a range of supports available from my Department for people following a bereavement.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, the Department may make an exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.
Approximately 2,800 exceptional needs payments totalling €5.7m were made in 2020 in relation to funeral and burial costs, compared to approximately 2,900 totalling €5.8m in 2019.
Other supports available include the widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pension which is a weekly payment, based on contributions or a means test. The widowed or surviving civil partner grant is a once-off payment of €8,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
