Step zero: check whether they were insured after all
Before anything, verify the actual status. 'Uninsured' means: no employment contract, no pension, no unemployment benefit or sick pay at the date of death. Surprisingly often, the family discovers the deceased did count as insured — a small survivor's pension, an old part-time contract, an indemnity.
The check takes one phone call to the territorial pension house with the deceased's CNP (personal numeric code). We do it the day you call us — if the full allowance applies, the file goes down the standard route, with assignment, and the family advances nothing.
This matters double for diaspora families: a parent in Romania may have had a pension you didn't know about. Don't assume — check.
The three routes, compared
The table sums up the three routes, so you can quickly see which fits your situation.
| Route | Who grants it | How much / what it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Family member of an insured person or pensioner | The supporter's pension house | 4,596 RON (2026) |
| City-hall funeral aid | Home-town city hall (social assistance) | Variable amount, set locally |
| Person with no next of kin | Municipality where the death occurred | Burial arranged in full |
Route 1 — family member of an insured person: 4,596 RON
If the uninsured deceased was a family member of someone insured or retired, that person receives half the allowance — 4,596 RON in 2026. Typical cases: the stay-at-home spouse of a pensioner, a minor child, a student child up to 26 in the parent's care, a dependent parent of an insured adult child.
The file goes to the pension house of the supporting person (not the deceased): death certificate, proof of kinship and dependency, proof of funeral costs, the supporter's pension stub or insurance certificate.
Our Essential package can be fitted to this amount — tell us the situation on the first call and we calculate exactly what's covered.
Route 2 — city-hall funeral aid
For families with no insured supporter at all, social assistance law provides local aid. Two main forms: funeral aid for families receiving the minimum inclusion income (Law 196/2016), and emergency aid granted by local council decision for exceptional situations. The full eligibility comparison is in our 2026 funeral allowance guide.
The request is filed at the city hall of the deceased's home town, at the social assistance directorate (in Bucharest — the sector DGASPC). The amount differs from one locality to another, because each local council sets it — from a few hundred to a few thousand RON, in cash or in kind.
Usual documents: standard request form, death certificate, the claimant's ID, proof of residence, proof of funeral costs (invoices, receipts), and where relevant, proof the family receives social assistance. Keep every receipt from the funeral. Note that Law 196/2016 on the minimum inclusion income replaced the old Law 416/2001 on the guaranteed minimum income as of 2024.
Route 3 — people with no next of kin
If the deceased has no family, or the family can't be found, the burial is arranged by the municipality where the death occurred, under Law 102/2014. The burial is done decently, in a public plot.
This often concerns elderly people living alone. If you're a neighbour, a friend, or a distant relative who learned of such a case — including from abroad — notify the city hall, or call us and we'll connect you with the responsible service.
Emergency aid — for exceptional situations
Besides the regular funeral aid, city halls can grant emergency aid, by local council decision, to families in exceptional situations — very low income, natural disasters, serious illness. The death of a person with no support at all can fall into this category.
It's requested at the social assistance directorate, with a request form, a sworn statement and documents proving the situation of need. A short social inquiry usually follows to confirm the conditions. Amounts and criteria differ from one locality to another.
What city-hall aid actually covers
City-hall aid rarely covers the full cost of a funeral. As a rule it contributes to part of the expenses — a simple coffin, transport, basic services. In some localities it comes in kind, through services contracted by the city hall, not in cash.
That's why it's worth combining, where possible, with other sources: the 4,596 RON half if there is an insured supporter, or a reduced-cost funeral package. Tell us the concrete situation and we build the least burdensome solution for the family.
Deadlines, and one golden rule
The pension-house allowance (including the 4,596 RON half) can be claimed within the general 3-year limitation period from the date of death. City-hall aid follows local deadlines — as a rule, file as close to the event as possible.
The golden rule on every route: keep every invoice and receipt connected to the funeral. All three procedures require proof of costs, and missing receipts are the most common reason files get rejected. We issue itemized invoices exactly for this purpose.