Porady
The death of a relative
The relative dies at home
If a loved one dies at home, you should first call an ambulance or a family doctor who will find death and issue a death certificate. Thus, you will be authorized to initiate the procedure of transporting the body.
The relative dies in a hospital or other institution
If a loved one dies in a hospital or other institution (such as a care facility), the death certificate is drawn up by the staff of the facility. Upon receiving information about the death, the family can begin funeral procedures and choose a funeral home.
The relative dies for unexplained reasons
The called emergency physician may refuse to issue a death certificate and call the police, who will notify the prosecutor. At the request of the prosecutor, the body will be transported to the Department of Forensic Medicine, where the body or autopsy will be performed.
You should go to the public prosecutor who is in charge of the case for a permission to retrieve the deceased’s body after the autopsy or examination. It is a document necessary to take the deceased’s body. If the prosecutor waived the autopsy, he will issue a permit.
With the death certificate obtained at the Department of Forensic Medicine you should go to the Office of Civil Status to receive the death certificate issued according to the place of death.
The documents necessary for organization of the burial
To arrange a funeral you need:
-a death certificate – a document confirming the death of a person, issued by a doctor,
-an entry of death- a document issued by the Office of Civil Status.
Documents necessary to obtain an entry of death in the Office of Civil Status:
– proof of the identity of the deceased person,
– proof of the identity of the person applying for the death certificate.
If the circumstances of death were the subject of prosecution or police proceedings (e.g. an accident), a written document from the authorities should be obtained, allowing the burial of the deceased.
The funeral grant
What is a funeral grant?
The funeral grant is a cash benefit, paid from the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) or Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS), Ministry of Interior and Administration, WBE.
Who is authorized to receive it?
The funeral grant is paid to:
– member of the family – then the allowance is paid in full lump sum,
– the person who is not a member of the family or institution – then the allowance is paid in the amount documented by the burial arrangements, does not exceed 4000 PLN,
– if the funeral expenses are covered by more than one person or an institution, the funeral allowance shall be distributed in proportion to the expenses incurred.
When can the funeral allowance be collected?
The funeral grant is payable in case of death of:
A) the insured person, i.e. a person subject to pension and disability insurance,
B) the person collecting the old-age or disability pension,
(C) a person who, at the date of death, has no established right to a pension but satisfies the conditions for obtaining and collecting it,
D) the person who received sickness benefit, maternity allowance or maternity benefit for the period after the insurance ended, the person who received the rehabilitation benefits,
E) family member of the person mentioned in pt. A-d, that is:
– spouse (widow and widower)
– own children, children of the other spouse and adopted children,
– other children adopted for upbringing and retention before becoming of age, including those in the foster family,
– grandchildren and siblings,
– Parents, including stepfather, stepmother and adoptive parents.
How much is the funeral grant?
Since 2011 the funeral grant has been 4000 PLN.