If someone dies and the family cannot afford the funeral, German law provides a right to support: under § 74 of the Social Code Book XII (SGB XII), the social welfare authority covers the necessary funeral costs where those obliged to pay cannot reasonably be expected to bear them. That is the general rule.
If the deceased is to be repatriated abroad, the support is much narrower than most people expect. We set this out openly, because a wrong expectation at this point is expensive.
The benchmark: what a funeral at the place of residence would have cost
The internal guidelines of social welfare offices that we have seen are worded almost identically. If the funeral takes place abroad, only the costs that would also have been incurred for a burial at the place of residence in Germany are covered. As a rule, that means:
- a simple coffin;
- placing the deceased in the coffin;
- the usual formalities;
- transport to the nearest airport.
Coverage ends at the airport.
What is generally not covered
- the air fare or air freight;
- preservation or embalming of the deceased;
- special coffins, including the soldered zinc-lined coffin many destination countries require;
- customs charges;
- all burial costs in the destination country.
A similar line applies within Germany: transport to a burial place outside the place of residence is in principle not paid from social assistance. Exceptions exist in special circumstances, but they are narrow.
In practice this means that for a repatriation costing €5,500 in total, the portion covered often remains in the low four figures. The rest falls to the family.
Practice varies between municipalities
§ 74 SGB XII is federal law, but it is applied by cities and districts — and their information sheets are worded with varying strictness. Some offices explicitly name the airport as the limit; others word it more generally and are open to assessing individual cases.
Hence a practical tip: do not ask in general terms whether repatriation abroad is covered — the answer is almost always no. Ask specifically which individual items will be covered, and request your municipality’s information sheet. The difference between the two questions can amount to several hundred euros.
Who applies, and when
The application is made by the person obliged to arrange the funeral — usually one of the next of kin under the burial law of the relevant federal state. It is their financial situation that is assessed, not that of the deceased; any estate is, however, taken into account. The competent office is usually the one at the place of death; if the deceased last received social assistance, it is the office that paid it.
Timing matters. Apply as early as possible, ideally before any orders are placed. Anyone who arrives with invoices only after the funeral has a much harder time. The fact that the funeral has already taken place does not automatically rule out a claim, but it makes proof more difficult.
What to bring
- death certificate;
- proof of the obligation to arrange the funeral, such as a birth or marriage certificate or a certified register extract;
- proof of income and assets of the applicant;
- details of the estate;
- a written cost estimate itemised line by line — not a lump sum.
We provide the last item. An itemised quote carries far more weight with the office than a lump-sum price, because otherwise the office cannot see which part corresponds to the benchmark of a funeral at the place of residence. Documents issued outside Germany may need a certified translation.
If the office does not pay: what else remains
- Check insurance. Travel insurance and funeral insurance often include repatriation, usually up to a fixed limit. The page on repatriation costs helps you compare it with the actual costs.
- An urn instead of a coffin. Urn repatriation costs about half, because the zinc-lined coffin, soldering and most of the freight weight are not needed. Whether this is right for your family and the destination country is first a religious question and only then a financial one — details on the page on urn repatriation.
- Burial in Germany. Some families ultimately choose this. Do not count on a later transfer as an obvious second step, though: exhumation and reburial require a permit and are only possible in exceptional cases during the rest period. If you want to keep this option open, discuss it with us and the cemetery administration before the burial.
Frequently asked questions
We prepare the quote so that it works for the office
Just tell us that an application under § 74 SGB XII is under way. You will receive a quote with separately itemised positions and, where helpful, a comparison with the cost of a funeral at the place of residence. It is free and non-binding.
Phone: +49 1511 7463888, around the clock · Request a call back
This article reflects the published internal guidelines of the authorities and does not replace legal advice. The decision of your local social welfare office is authoritative.
