What is the level of funeral cost support according to the latest regulations?
What is the procedure for providing funeral cost support for people receiving social pension benefits? What is the level of funeral cost support according to the latest regulations? This is a concern of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai (Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province).
Reply: Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 5, Decree 176/2025/ND-CP stipulates as follows:
Funeral cost support
1. A person who is receiving social pension benefits or a person who has submitted a written request for social pension benefits, is eligible for benefits but the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level has not yet issued a decision to receive social pension benefits when he/she dies will be supported with funeral expenses at the level prescribed in Clause 2, Article 11, Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP dated March 15, 2021 of the Government stipulating social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries.
2. In case the subjects specified in Clause 1 of this Article are supported with funeral expenses and funeral fees specified in different documents with different levels, they will only receive the highest level.
3. Procedures for implementing funeral cost support
a) Organizations and individuals in charge of burying subjects with a request for support for funeral expenses according to Form No. 02 issued with this Decree shall send it directly or via postal service or online to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level;
b) Within 03 working days from the date of receiving complete documents, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level shall consider and decide to support funeral expenses.
Accordingly, the procedure for implementing funeral cost support is prescribed as follows:
(1) Organizations and individuals in charge of burying the subjects must submit a Declaration requesting support for funeral expenses according to Form No. 02 issued with Decree 176/2025/ND-CP directly or via postal service or online to the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level;
(2) Within 03 working days from the date of receiving complete documents, the Chairman of the People's Committee at the commune level shall consider and decide to support funeral expenses.
In addition, the funeral cost support level for the above subjects is at least 20 times the standard level prescribed in Clause 2, Article 4, Decree 20/2021/ND-CP amended by Clause 1, Article 1, Decree 76/2024/ND-CP.
Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 2, Article 4, Decree 20/2021/ND-CP amended by Clause 1, Article 1, Decree 76/2024/ND-CP effective from July 1, 2024, the Social Assistance Standard applicable from July 1, 2024 is VND 500,000/month.
Depending on the budget balance, the rate of increase in consumer prices and the living conditions of social protection beneficiaries, competent authorities shall consider and adjust the social assistance standard accordingly; ensuring policy correlation with other beneficiaries.
Thus, the funeral cost support level for the above subjects is at least 20 x 500,000 VND = 10,000,000 VND.
Note:In case the subjects specified in Clause 1, Article 5, Decree 176/2025/ND-CP are supported with funeral expenses and funeral fees specified in many different documents at different levels, they will only receive the highest level.