How to obtain Social Welfare Office (Sozialamt) support for funeral costs in Germany if your income is low
In Germany, funeral costs are among the most sudden and financially burdensome expenses, especially for people with low income or without prior savings.
In such situations, it is possible to submit a formal application to the Social Welfare Office (Sozialamt) to have all or part of the funeral costs covered.
How does this work in practice? Who is entitled to apply? And what are the conditions and required documents?
Under German law, the responsibility for paying funeral costs lies first with the close relatives of the deceased, in particular:
the spouse
children
parents
siblings (in certain cases)
These persons are legally referred to as “Bestattungspflichtige” – those who are obliged to ensure the funeral.
If these relatives do not have sufficient financial means, they can apply for support from the Sozialamt.
The legal basis is found in Section 74 of Book XII of the German Social Code – § 74 SGB XII. It states:
“Die Kosten einer Bestattung werden übernommen, soweit sie den Hinterbliebenen nicht zugemutet werden können.”
In English:
“The costs of a funeral shall be covered if it cannot reasonably be expected of the surviving relatives to bear them.”
In other words, if paying the funeral costs would place an unreasonable financial burden on the relatives, the state – via the Sozialamt – can assume these costs in full or in part.
Anyone who is legally obliged to pay the funeral costs may submit an application if:
they do not have sufficient income to cover the costs, or
they receive social benefits such as Bürgergeld or basic income support (Grundsicherung), or
they have a low income which, after deducting rent, basic health insurance and living expenses, leaves only a small amount that is insufficient to pay for the funeral.
In all cases, the Sozialamt will examine the overall financial situation (income and assets) before making a decision.
Generally, the Sozialamt will cover only what is deemed “necessary and reasonable”, including for example:
the cost of a simple grave (Reihengrab)
a simple coffin
transport of the deceased
municipal burial fees (Beisetzungsgebühren)
issuing of the death certificate
religiously required washing or ritual preparation (e.g. Islamic washing), provided the price is within a reasonable range
short-term storage of the body in a mortuary or cooling facility
The Sozialamt usually does not cover:
lavish grave decorations or expensive gravestones
elaborate flower arrangements
permanent, high-priced grave types (e.g. certain Dauergrab or special family plots)
luxury coffins or premium options
optional services that are purely decorative or representative
1. Apply as early as possible
Ideally, you should submit the application immediately after the death or as soon as you receive a cost estimate or invoice from the funeral home.
It is still possible to apply after the funeral, but it is not advisable to wait more than a few weeks, otherwise the authorities may consider that you accepted the costs voluntarily.
2. Go to the Sozialamt in the place where the person died
The competent authority is generally the Sozialamt in the municipality where the death occurred,
not necessarily the Social Welfare Office at the applicant’s place of residence.
3. Fill in the application form and submit the following documents:
copy of the death certificate (Sterbeurkunde)
proof of the family relationship (e.g. family register, marriage certificate, birth certificates)
cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag) or invoice (Rechnung) from the funeral company
proof of income (e.g. Bürgergeld notice, payslips, pension notices)
bank statements for the last 3 months
rental contract or proof of current rent
proof of health insurance
documents indicating the number of persons in the household
The more complete and transparent your documents, the faster the Sozialamt can process your application.
In most cases, the Sozialamt pays the approved costs directly to the funeral home once the application has been approved.
This relieves the applicant from having to make large payments upfront.
If the relatives have already paid the bill from their own funds, a partial or full reimbursement may be made later, depending on the financial assessment.
If your application is rejected, you can file a formal objection (Widerspruch) within one month of receiving the written decision.
If the objection is also rejected, you may bring the case before the Social Court (Sozialgericht).
In such situations, it is advisable to seek advice from a social counselling service or a lawyer specialising in social law.
Do not sign expensive funeral contracts before you know whether – and to what extent – the Sozialamt will accept the costs.
Choose a funeral company that has experience with social cases; many offer special social tariffs (Sozialtarife) or basic packages.
Always request a written cost estimate before signing any contract.
Keep all documents and invoices well-organised and be honest and transparent about your financial situation to avoid delays or suspicion.
Despite the strict nature of the German administrative system, there are real and effective forms of support available in times of financial hardship – even in such sensitive moments as dealing with a death and funeral.
If you are unable to afford the funeral costs of a close relative, do not hesitate to contact the Sozialamt and request assistance. What matters is that you are transparent, well-prepared with documents and aware of your rights.
Dignity in burial is not a luxury, but a basic human right, and German law provides clear mechanisms to help protect it.
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or certain details may not be fully verified. Please therefore consider the information in these articles as an initial point of reference and always contact the competent authorities for final and legally binding guidance.
