Assistance in the case of death

The Law on Assistance in the Case of Death

Types of death grants

Two types of death grants have been established:

     1) funeral allowance;

    2) allowance for repatriation of remains of Lithuanian citizens who have died abroad to the Republic of Lithuania (repatriation allowance).

Funeral allowance

 A lump-sum funeral allowance equal to 8 basic social benefits (from 1 January 2024 - EUR 440) is paid to the person burying the deceased, if the deceased was:

1)    a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania;

2)    a foreign citizen residing in the Republic of Lithuania and holding the European Union long-term residence permit issued in the Republic of Lithuania;

3)    a foreign citizen residing in the Republic of Lithuania and holding the temporary residence permit issued to the foreign citizen intending to do highly qualified work in the Republic of Lithuania;

4)    a person residing in the Republic of Lithuania and having the refugee status in the Republic of Lithuania;

5)    a person subject to this Law in accordance with the European Union social security coordination regulations;

6)    a foreign citizen residing in the Republic of Lithuania holding a temporary residence and work permit in the Republic of Lithuania who has worked in the Republic of Lithuania until his/her death or at least for 6 months and was registered as unemployed with the territorial Labour Exchange;

7)    a citizen of a member state of the European Union or a member state of the European Free Trade Association in the European Economic Area or their family member who has been issued the documents granting or confirming the right of residence in the Republic of Lithuania;

8) a foreign citizen residing in the Republic of Lithuania for the purpose of employment as seasonal workers;

9) a foreign citizen residing in the Republic of Lithuania holding a temporary residence in the framework of an intra-corporate transfer;

10) a foreign citizen who is granted asylum in the Republic of Lithuania.

The funeral allowance is also paid in the event of a stillborn child of the above persons.

The funeral allowance is not paid if the funeral costs are covered by the state or municipal budget.

Repatriation allowance

The repatriation allowance is equal to the actual costs of transporting the mortal remains to the Republic of Lithuania, but not exceeding 54 basic social benefits (from 1 January 2024 - EUR 2 916).

The natural person organizing the repatriation shall be entitled to a repatriation allowance if mean monthly income of the person does not exceed 3 state supported income amounts (from 1 January 2024 - EUR 528).

The repatriation assistance shall not be provided for repatriation of mortal remains of civil servants, state officials, politicians, and soldiers who have died abroad due to the reasons related to performance of their official duties as well as the mortal remains of students who have died due to the reasons related to professional or basic training, whose repatriation to the Republic of Lithuania shall be covered by the state.

Allocation and payment of death grants

Funeral allowance:

1. The decision about allocating the funeral allowance shall be made and the allowance shall be paid to the person burying the deceased within 24 hours from the day of receiving the application and all documents (data) necessary for the funeral allowance in the municipal administration, if the application is filed within 10 business days from the day the right to a funeral allowance takes effect.

2. If the person burying the deceased applies for a funeral allowance later than within 10 business days from the day the right to a funeral allowance takes effect, the decision about allocating the funeral allowance shall be made and the allowance shall be paid within one month from the day of receiving the application and all documents (data) necessary for the funeral allowance in the municipal administration.

Repatriation allowance:

The decision about allocating the repatriation allowance shall be made and the allowance shall be paid to the natural person organizing the repatriation within one month from the day of receiving the application and all documents.