Money. Death benefits, lump-sum payments... Are you familiar with the financial assistance available after a death?

Depending on your resources, assistance with funeral expenses can be requested from the Centre communal d'action sociale (CCAS) within 15 days.

Contact is established through a social worker who will be able to guide you towards other sources of funding, such as that provided at the departmental level by the Caf.

This is conditional emergency aid, the amount of which varies from €800 to €1,500.

Death Benefit

The Primary Health Insurance Fund (CPAM) is likely to pay an allowance to people financially weakened by the death of a loved one if the latter was in one of the following situations in the three months preceding: employee, compensated by France Travail, holder of a disability pension or an annuity for work accident or occupational disease or even self-employed non-retired worker.

This death benefit is €3,977 if the deceased was an employee and €9,420 if they were self-employed or receiving a disability pension. Priority beneficiaries have one month to come forward.

When the deceased was registered with France Travail and receiving compensation, the organization is likely to pay an allowance to his relatives (primarily his spouse).

It corresponds to 120 times the daily amount of unemployment benefits he received (approximately four months), it is increased by 45 times this amount in the case of dependent children.

Widow's allowance

Widows and widowers under 55 years of age must, within one year, contact the National Old-Age Insurance Fund (CNAV) or the Agricultural Social Mutual Fund (MSA) if they wish to receive a widow's allowance for two years.

Its monthly amount is €713.17. It is allocated subject to a means test of less than €2,674.38 over the last three months.

Survivor's pension

After age 55, widows and widowers can apply to receive the survivor's pension of the deceased, provided that he or she was receiving a retirement pension.

It amounts to 54% of the main pension paid by the National Retirement Insurance Fund or the MSA (Agricultural Social Mutual Fund). The application must be made to the pension fund.

Since it starts to be paid out within four months of filing the application, it's best not to waste any time.

Lump-sum allowance

In the event of the death of a child under 25, a lump-sum allowance may be paid to the parents. Its amount varies depending on the household composition and income.

It is paid automatically if the family already receives benefits from the CAF. Otherwise, an application must be made.