Social Welfare Funeral in Germany 2026

Introduction

We understand that you are going through one of the most difficult times in your life. The loss of someone close is painful enough -- and when the question of funeral costs becomes an additional burden, it can feel overwhelming. Please know: you are not alone, and there is no shame in seeking support.

The social welfare funeral (Sozialbestattung) is a legally established right in Germany. It ensures that every person receives a dignified funeral -- regardless of the financial situation of the bereaved family. This article explains in clear steps who is eligible, how to submit your application, and which costs the social welfare office (Sozialamt) will cover.

If you are currently under time pressure: in most federal states (Bundeslaender), the burial deadline is 4 to 10 days. It is therefore important to act promptly -- but you do not need to understand everything at once. Take the time you need.

For a comprehensive overview of all funeral costs in Germany, see our article Funeral Costs in Germany 2026. And if you are wondering which first steps are actually necessary, our Guide for When a Death Occurs can help. Even without a large budget, memories can be preserved: a digital memorial page on Kinmory offers a dignified space for photos and remembrance.

A social welfare funeral means that the social welfare office (Sozialamt) covers the necessary costs of a simple but dignified funeral when the legally obligated relatives are financially unable to bear these costs themselves. The legal basis is Section 74 SGB XII (Social Code, Book XII). This is a state support benefit -- not charity.

The exact wording of the law states:

"The necessary costs of a funeral shall be covered insofar as the persons obligated to do so cannot be reasonably expected to bear the costs."

This means: it is not about whether you are "poor enough." The decisive factor is whether bearing the costs would constitute an unreasonable burden for you. This assessment takes into account your income, your assets, and the amount of the funeral costs incurred.

Important to understand

A social welfare funeral is not a pauper's grave. It is a legally regulated form of support for people in difficult financial situations.
You do not need to be a welfare recipient to be eligible.
The Sozialamt covers the costs of a simple, locally customary funeral. "Simple" does not mean "undignified."
The funeral is carried out by a regular funeral director -- not by the Sozialamt itself.

Every person who is legally obligated to arrange a burial (bestattungspflichtig) and for whom bearing the costs would be financially unreasonable is eligible for a social welfare funeral. Neither receiving social welfare nor being unemployed is a prerequisite -- low-income earners, pensioners with small pensions, and those in debt can also submit the application.

Who is obligated to arrange the funeral?

The obligation to arrange a funeral (Bestattungspflicht) is regulated in the burial laws of each federal state (Bundesland). In most federal states, the following order of responsibility applies:

Priority	Person obligated to arrange the funeral
1	Spouse / registered civil partner
2	Adult children
3	Parents
4	Adult siblings
5	Adult grandchildren
6	Grandparents

Note: The exact order may vary slightly depending on the federal state. If in doubt, the responsible Sozialamt will inform you about the regulations applicable in your federal state.

Obligation to arrange vs. obligation to pay -- an important distinction

There is an important distinction: the obligation to arrange the funeral (Bestattungspflicht -- the duty to organise the burial) lies with the closest relatives under the burial laws of the federal states. The obligation to bear the costs (Kostentragungspflicht) is governed by the German Civil Code (BGB): according to Section 1968 BGB, the heir is initially responsible for the costs of the funeral.

If the estate is insufficient and the relatives obligated to arrange the funeral are also unable to bear the costs, Section 74 SGB XII applies -- the social welfare funeral.

When is bearing the costs considered "unreasonable"?

The Sozialamt examines the following when reviewing your application:

Your income: Does it fall below the income thresholds under Sections 85 ff. SGB XII?
Your assets: Savings are considered, minus certain allowances (protected assets / Schonvermoegen).
The estate: Is the inheritance of the deceased sufficient to cover the funeral costs?
Other entitlements: Is there a funeral insurance policy (Sterbegeldversicherung) or other benefit entitlements?

A partial cost coverage is also possible: if you can bear part of the costs yourself, the Sozialamt covers only the difference.

The application for a social welfare funeral should be submitted to the responsible social welfare office (Sozialamt) before the burial. If you submit the application in time, you generally do not need to pay upfront. The process follows these steps:

Step 1: Identify the responsible Sozialamt

The responsible office is the Sozialamt at the place of death of the deceased person -- not at your own place of residence. If the place of death is unclear or abroad, contact the Sozialamt at your own place of residence. They will help you further.

Step 2: Submit the application -- ideally BEFORE the burial

The application can be submitted informally, though many social welfare offices provide their own forms. The key point is: submit the application as early as possible, ideally before you commission a funeral director.

Why? If the application is submitted before the burial and is approved, you will receive a cost assumption declaration (Kostenuebernahmeerklaerung). With this declaration, you commission the funeral director directly -- and do not need to pay upfront.

Step 3: Submit the required documents

The following documents are typically required:

Document	Notes
Death certificate or provisional death notification	Issued by the civil registry office (Standesamt)
Your identity card / passport	For identification
Proof of obligation to arrange the funeral	Family record book, marriage certificate, or similar
Proof of income	Pay slips, pension statement, unemployment benefit notice
Bank statements for the last 3 months	Both yours and those of the deceased
Rental agreement / housing costs	Proof of your ongoing expenses
Cost estimate from the funeral director	Ideally obtained before commissioning
Rejection notice from a funeral insurance provider, if applicable	If one exists
Certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or statement on the estate situation	If already available

Tip: If you do not yet have all the documents together, submit the application anyway. You can provide missing documents later. The most important thing is that the Sozialamt is informed of your situation early on.

Step 4: Receive the cost assumption declaration

After reviewing your documents, the Sozialamt decides on your application. If approved, you will receive a cost assumption declaration (Kostenuebernahmeerklaerung). This document is your basis for commissioning a funeral director.

Step 5: Commission a funeral director

With the cost assumption declaration, you approach a funeral director of your choice. You are free to choose the funeral director -- the Sozialamt does not prescribe a specific company. The funeral director settles the covered costs directly with the Sozialamt.

What if you submit the application after the burial? A retrospective application is generally possible, but more difficult. In this case, you must cover the costs upfront and the Sozialamt reviews reimbursement. However, there is a risk that costs exceeding the "necessary level" will not be reimbursed. Therefore, always submit the application as early as possible.

What Does the Sozialamt Cover -- and What Does It Not?

The Sozialamt covers the "necessary costs" of a simple, locally customary, and dignified funeral. Exactly what falls under this varies by municipality and federal state. The following overview provides guidance:

Cost item	Typically covered	Typically NOT covered
Medical examination of the body and death notification	Yes	--
Death certificate(s)	Yes	--
Simple coffin or urn	Yes	High-end models
Coffin lining and clothing	Yes (simple)	Special requests
Transfer to the cemetery	Yes	Long-distance transfers
Cremation (for cremation burials)	Yes	--
Burial fees (cemetery)	Yes (assigned plot / Reihengrab)	Chosen plot (Wahlgrab)
Simple funeral ceremony	Yes (in most municipalities)	Elaborate ceremonies
Grave cross or simple grave plaque	Yes (in many municipalities)	Large gravestone / monument
Post-funeral gathering / memorial meal	No	--
Elaborate floral arrangements	No	--
Mourning attire	No	--
Death notice in the newspaper	No	--
Long-term grave maintenance	No	--

Source: Regulations under Section 74 SGB XII. The exact scope of services varies by municipality. Enquire with your responsible Sozialamt about the local coverage. Data current as of March 2026.

Earth burial or cremation?

In most municipalities, the Sozialamt covers the costs of both an earth burial (Erdbestattung) and a cremation (Feuerbestattung -- cremation followed by urn burial). Since a cremation is generally less expensive, some social welfare offices prefer this option. However, you generally have a say in the choice of burial type.

For an overview of all burial types and their costs, see our article Funeral Costs in Germany 2026.

A social welfare funeral is also a dignified funeral. Your financial situation does not determine the value of a farewell. It is important that you know your rights and do not hesitate to assert them.

You have a say

Burial type: You can help decide whether an earth burial or cremation takes place (provided there are no particular reasons against it).
Choice of funeral director: You may choose the funeral director yourself. The Sozialamt cannot prescribe a specific funeral director.
Cemetery: As a rule, the burial takes place at a municipal cemetery. If you have a justified wish for a particular cemetery, you can express this.
Funeral ceremony: Even within the framework of a social welfare funeral, a simple funeral ceremony is possible -- whether with a member of the clergy, a secular speaker, or in a quiet ceremony.

Dignity does not always cost money

There are many ways to give a person a dignified farewell that cost nothing or very little:

Personal words from family members during the ceremony
Flowers brought from your own garden
Shared remembrance within the family circle
A digital memorial page where family and friends from anywhere can share memories, photos, and words of farewell

Also check whether you can deduct funeral costs from your taxes, and verify whether the deceased held a funeral insurance policy (Sterbegeldversicherung).

Advice and support

If you are unsure or need help with the application process, contact:

Your responsible Sozialamt -- the staff are familiar with the situation and will advise you
Social welfare associations (Sozialverbaende) such as VdK, Caritas, or Diakonie
Debt counselling services (Schuldnerberatungsstellen), if funeral costs are part of a larger financial burden
Pastoral care and grief counselling -- church-based support services also help regardless of religious affiliation

If the Sozialamt Refuses -- Your Right to Object

If your application is refused, you can lodge a formal objection, called a Widerspruch. Under Section 84(1) SGG (Sozialgerichtsgesetz -- the Social Courts Act), the deadline is one month from notification of the decision. The objection costs you nothing. If the Sozialamt does not change its mind, you can take the matter to the Social Court (Sozialgericht) -- and those proceedings are free of court fees for you.

A refusal feels like a judgement on your life. It is not. It is an administrative decision, and administrative decisions are corrected regularly -- often by the Sozialamt itself. What matters is that you know the deadline, because it keeps running even on the days when you have no strength to deal with it. The objection itself is only a few sentences long. The detailed reasoning can follow later.

The deadline: one month -- and when it starts

The month does not start on the day you open the envelope. It starts with the notification (Bekanntgabe) of the decision, and for decisions sent by post the law applies a presumption. Section 37(2) SGB X provides that a written administrative decision transmitted by post within Germany is deemed notified "on the fourth day after posting". The month is counted from that day.

Step	Example
The Sozialamt posts the decision	3 March
Decision deemed notified (fourth day)	7 March
Objection deadline expires at the end of	7 April

Three exceptions are worth knowing:

The letter arrived later. Section 37(2) SGB X expressly disapplies the four-day presumption if the decision did not reach you at all, or reached you at a later date. In case of doubt, the authority must prove both delivery and its date. So keep the envelope with the postmark.
The deadline falls on a weekend or public holiday. It then expires only at the end of the next working day (Section 26(3) SGB X).
The decision contains no notice of legal remedies, or an incorrect one. In that case Section 66(2) SGG gives you a full year. The notice of legal remedies (Rechtsbehelfsbelehrung) is the paragraph at the end of the decision telling you where and within what period you may object. If it is missing, make a note of that -- it can extend your deadline considerably.

If the decision is notified to an address abroad, the objection period is three months (Section 84(1) SGG).

The form: what counts -- and what does not

Under Section 84(1) SGG, the objection must be made in writing, in electronic form under Section 36a(2) SGB I, or declared for the record (zur Niederschrift) at the office that issued the decision. In practice, this means:

Form	Valid?
Letter with a handwritten signature	Yes
Declared in person at the Sozialamt for the record	Yes -- the authority must minute it
De-Mail or a document with a qualified electronic signature	Yes
Plain e-mail	No
Telephone call	No

The Regional Social Court of North Rhine-Westphalia confirmed in its judgment of 25 May 2023 (case reference L 6 AS 444/21) that a plain e-mail does not satisfy the written-form requirement -- and that this holds even where the decision's notice of legal remedies was incomplete. Do not rely on an e-mail.

Secure your proof. Hand the objection in at the Sozialamt in person and ask them to stamp receipt onto your copy -- this is free and is the simplest evidence. Alternatively, send it by registered post. And if you would rather not draft the letter yourself: you may go to the Sozialamt at any time and declare the objection orally for the record. The staff are obliged to take it down.

What the objection needs to contain

To meet the deadline, a short letter is enough. You can send the reasoning once you have gathered your documents.

Item	Why it is needed
Your name, address and date of birth	So it can be matched to your file
The file reference and date of the decision	So it is clear which decision you are challenging
The sentence "Hiermit lege ich Widerspruch ein" (I hereby lodge an objection)	Your intention must be unmistakable
What you want to achieve	Withdrawal of the decision and coverage of the necessary funeral costs under Section 74 SGB XII
Place, date and a handwritten signature	Formal requirement under Section 84(1) SGG

Model wording (write this in German, as the office works in German)

An das Sozialamt [city], [address]

Betreff: Widerspruch gegen den Bescheid vom [date], Aktenzeichen [reference]

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

hiermit lege ich Widerspruch gegen den oben genannten Bescheid ein. Ich beantrage, den Bescheid aufzuheben und die erforderlichen Kosten der Bestattung von [name of the deceased, died on date] nach Paragraph 74 SGB XII zu übernehmen.

Eine ausführliche Begründung reiche ich innerhalb der nächsten zwei Wochen nach. Bitte bestätigen Sie mir den Eingang dieses Widerspruchs.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

[place, date, handwritten signature]

With the reasoning, enclose whatever documents evidence your situation: current proof of income, bank statements, your tenancy agreement, evidence of debts, wage attachments or maintenance obligations, the funeral director's cost estimate and -- if you have it -- proof that the estate is over-indebted.

Common grounds for refusal -- and which of them can be challenged

Not every refusal is lawful, and the social courts have already narrowed several of the most frequent reasons given.

Reason given in the decision	What you should check
"It is the heir, not you, who must pay."	The Federal Social Court held on 12 December 2023 (case reference B 8 SO 20/22 R) that a person obliged to arrange the burial under the law of their federal state is an obligated person within the meaning of Section 74 SGB XII -- regardless of whether they are an heir. The Sozialamt may refer you to a reimbursement claim against the heir only where that claim is genuinely enforceable without difficulty. If the heir is destitute, that argument does not hold.
"Someone with a prior obligation should have paid."	Under the same judgment, the existence of persons with a prior obligation does not exclude your own entitlement.
"Your income is above the threshold."	Ask in writing for the calculation. The assessment is made under Sections 85 ff. SGB XII, and your ongoing burdens -- rent, maintenance payments, instalments, wage attachments -- belong in that calculation. Even if you are only slightly above the threshold, partial coverage remains possible.
"The costs were not necessary."	The benchmark is a simple, locally customary funeral -- not the cheapest one imaginable. Ask for an itemised list showing which items were struck out and why.
"You could have agreed instalments with the funeral director."	Take this objection seriously: the Social Court of Frankfurt am Main dismissed a claim on precisely this ground in its judgment of 2 February 2026 (case reference S 30 SO 233/20). Ask the funeral director in writing about deferral, instalments or waiver, and keep the reply. Submit that correspondence -- or explain why instalments would not be sustainable alongside your other obligations.
"You applied too late."	There is no statutory deadline for a Sozialbestattung application; the Regional Social Court of Hamburg confirmed this in its judgment of 18 June 2020 (case reference L 4 SO 7/19). What is decisive, however, is your financial position at the time the authority decides -- which is why applying early remains the safer route.
"We are not the competent office."	See the next section. A question of competence must not be allowed to make your application disappear.

One consideration is often overlooked. Bearing the costs can also be unreasonable for personal reasons -- for instance where the deceased demonstrably committed serious wrongs against you. According to betanet, the social law information service of the beta Institut, the Sozialamt must decide this at its proper discretion; a mere breakdown of contact is not enough on its own. If your relationship with the deceased was severely damaged, say so in the objection. That is not something to be ashamed of; it is legally relevant.

Which Sozialamt is competent when the place of death, the place of residence and the place of burial differ?

Local competence is governed by Section 98(3) SGB XII:

"In den Fällen des § 74 ist der Träger der Sozialhilfe örtlich zuständig, der bis zum Tod der leistungsberechtigten Person Sozialhilfe leistete, in den anderen Fällen der Träger der Sozialhilfe, in dessen Bereich der Sterbeort liegt."

(In cases under Section 74, the competent social welfare provider is the one that provided social assistance to the entitled person up until their death; in all other cases, the provider in whose area the place of death lies.)

This produces a clear order of priority:

Situation	The competent authority is
The deceased received social assistance up until their death	The provider that paid that assistance
In all other cases	The provider in whose area the place of death lies

Your own place of residence and the place where the burial is to happen are not decisive. So if your mother died in a care home in another city and is to be buried in her home town, it is normally the Sozialamt at the place of death that decides -- unless she was receiving social assistance from another provider up to the end. In that case, that provider remains competent.

If you have gone to the wrong office, nothing is lost. Under Section 16(2) SGB I, a provider that is not competent must forward your application to the competent one without delay -- and the application counts as having been made on the date it arrived at the first office. So never withdraw an application in order to file it again elsewhere: you would lose the original date of receipt. Instead, insist in writing that it be forwarded.

If the Sozialamt does not decide at all

An objection does not speed up a decision by itself, and the burial deadline of 4 to 10 days keeps running regardless. There are two routes for this situation:

Urgent application to the Social Court. Under Section 86b(2) SGG, the Social Court may issue an interim order (einstweilige Anordnung) to avert substantial disadvantages. Under subsection 3, the application is admissible even before a claim has been filed, it is free of court fees, and you can state it orally at the court's application intake desk (Rechtsantragstelle). This is the fast route when the burial cannot wait.
Claim for failure to act. If the Sozialamt does not decide without adequate reason, Section 88 SGG allows you to bring a claim for failure to act (Untaetigkeitsklage): six months after your application, or three months after you lodged your objection.

What happens after the objection

The Sozialamt reviews its decision once more. There are two possible outcomes:

Abhilfebescheid (remedial decision) -- the office finds in your favour and covers the costs in full or in part. This happens more often than many people expect.
Widerspruchsbescheid (objection decision) -- the office maintains the refusal. Only this decision opens the way to court.

Against the Widerspruchsbescheid you may bring a claim before the Social Court. Under Section 87(1) and (2) SGG, the deadline is again one month from notification of the objection decision. For these proceedings:

They are free of court fees for you. Under Section 183 SGG, proceedings before the social courts are free of charge for benefit recipients -- and a person who would belong to that group if they won the case is treated as a benefit recipient.
There is no requirement to instruct a solicitor at first instance. You can state your claim orally at the court's application intake desk, where it will be recorded for you.
If your objection succeeds, Section 63 SGB X requires the authority to reimburse the expenses necessary to pursue your rights -- including solicitors' fees where instructing a solicitor was necessary.

If the deadline has already passed

If the objection period expires without a response from you, the decision becomes final and binding (bestandskraeftig). That sounds like the end, but it is not always. Two routes remain open:

Reinstatement of the previous position (Wiedereinsetzung in den vorigen Stand). If you were prevented from meeting the deadline through no fault of your own -- for example by a hospital stay or serious illness -- you can apply for reinstatement under Section 67 SGG. The application must be made within one month of the obstacle falling away, and the objection must be made good within that same period. Once a year has passed since the end of the missed deadline, this is possible only in cases of force majeure.

Application for review (Ueberpruefungsantrag). Under Section 44 SGB X, a decision must be withdrawn even after it has become unappealable, where the law was applied incorrectly or the facts assumed were incorrect. This application requires no particular form and is not tied to a one-month deadline. Under Section 44(4) SGB X, benefits are paid retrospectively for a maximum period of four years.

The application for review is, however, the second chance rather than the first: it requires the decision to have been substantively wrong, whereas a timely objection can succeed simply because the office exercises its discretion differently. While the deadline is still running, the objection is the better route.

Legal help when you cannot pay for it

You do not have to go through this alone -- and you do not have to pay anything you do not have.

Support	What it covers	What it costs you
Beratungshilfe (legal advice assistance)	Advice and representation by a solicitor outside court, including in the objection procedure	A contribution of EUR 15 to the solicitor (item 2500 of the schedule of fees to the RVG); the solicitor may waive it
Prozesskostenhilfe (legal aid for court proceedings)	Proceedings before the Social Court	Nothing, or instalments, depending on your circumstances (Section 73a SGG)
The objection procedure itself	The Sozialamt's fresh review	Nothing -- under Section 64(1) SGB X, no fees or expenses are charged for administrative proceedings

You apply for Beratungshilfe at the local court (Amtsgericht) for your place of residence -- online through the justice portal service.justiz.de, in writing on the official form, or simply orally at the court counter. Under Section 2 BerHG it is granted "in all legal matters", and social law is among them. Take the refusal decision, your proof of income and your identity document with you. With the Beratungshilfeschein (the certificate the court issues) you then choose a solicitor yourself.

Beyond that, the social welfare associations VdK and SoVD represent their members in social law proceedings, and the advice centres run by Caritas and Diakonie will help you with the wording -- regardless of your faith.

And once more, because it matters: an objection is not a quarrel, and it is not a complaint about people doing their jobs. It is the route the law itself provides for having a decision looked at again. Taking it is your right.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Entitlement to a social welfare funeral under Section 74 SGB XII exists regardless of whether you receive social welfare, citizens' income (Buergergeld), or other state benefits. The only deciding factor is whether bearing the funeral costs would be financially unreasonable for you. Low-income earners, people with small pensions, and those in debt can also submit an application.

Can I choose my own funeral director?

Yes. You have the right to freely choose the funeral director. The Sozialamt cannot assign a specific funeral director to you. It is advisable to obtain a cost estimate before commissioning the funeral director and to present this to the Sozialamt. Make sure the estimate remains within the scope of a simple, locally customary funeral.

What happens if I submit the application only after the burial?

A retrospective application is generally possible but may have disadvantages. You must initially cover the costs yourself, and the Sozialamt will review which costs were "necessary" after the fact. Costs exceeding those of a simple funeral may not be reimbursed. Therefore, always submit the application before the burial whenever possible.

What can I do if the Sozialamt refuses my application?

You can lodge a formal objection (Widerspruch). Under Section 84(1) SGG the deadline is one month from notification of the decision; a decision sent by post is deemed notified on the fourth day after posting under Section 37(2) SGB X. The objection must be in writing and signed, or declared in person at the Sozialamt for the record -- a plain e-mail is not sufficient. It costs nothing, and you may submit the reasons later.

Yes. A simple funeral ceremony is included in the scope of services in many municipalities. This may include a quiet ceremony, a prayer, or a short speech at the graveside. Elaborate celebrations with large floral arrangements or music are generally not covered -- but a dignified farewell is always possible.

Does the Sozialamt also cover a gravestone?

In many municipalities, a simple grave cross, a grave plaque, or a wooden cross is covered as part of the social welfare funeral. An elaborate gravestone or a large memorial is generally not included in the scope of coverage. Enquire with your Sozialamt about local regulations. Alternatively, you can create a lasting memorial with a digital memorial page that exists independently of any physical grave marker.

Summary

A social welfare funeral is a right, not charity. Section 74 SGB XII guarantees a dignified funeral when the costs are not affordable.
You do not need to be a welfare recipient. Low-income earners and pensioners with small pensions can also apply.
Submit your application as early as possible -- ideally before the burial, at the Sozialamt of the place of death.
The Sozialamt covers the necessary costs for a coffin or urn, transfer, burial fees, and a simple funeral ceremony.
You have a say in the burial type, the choice of funeral director, and the design of the ceremony.
A refusal is not the end. You can lodge an objection (Widerspruch) against the decision within one month (Section 84(1) SGG) -- in writing and signed, or declared for the record at the office, but never by plain e-mail. After that, the Social Court is open to you, free of court fees and without any requirement to instruct a solicitor.
Legal advice is available even without money. Beratungshilfe at the local court costs a EUR 15 contribution, Prozesskostenhilfe covers court proceedings, and the objection procedure itself is free of charge.
Dignity does not depend on your budget. Personal gestures, shared remembrance, and a digital memorial page can make a meaningful farewell possible.
Seek support: Social welfare offices, welfare associations, and counselling services will help you through the process.

Sources

§ 74 SGB XII – Bestattungskosten — The statutory basis for a social welfare funeral (German Social Code, Book XII): a legal right to have the necessary funeral costs met by the Sozialamt when those obliged to pay cannot reasonably be expected to bear them.
§ 98(3) SGB XII – Local competence — The competent authority is the social welfare provider that paid social assistance to the deceased up until their death; in all other cases, the provider in whose area the place of death lies.
§ 84 SGG – Objection deadline and form — The objection must be lodged within one month of notification, in writing, in electronic form under § 36a(2) SGB I, or declared for the record; three months where notification is made abroad.
§ 37(2) SGB X – Notification of an administrative decision — A decision sent by post is deemed notified on the fourth day after posting; this does not apply if it did not arrive or arrived later -- in case of doubt the authority must prove delivery.
§ 26(3) SGB X – Expiry of deadlines — Where a deadline would expire on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, it expires at the end of the next working day.
§ 66(2) SGG – Notice of legal remedies — Where the notice was omitted or given incorrectly, the remedy may be brought within one year.
§ 87 SGG – Time limit for bringing a claim — One month; after a preliminary objection procedure, the period runs from notification of the objection decision.
§ 183 SGG – Freedom from court fees — Proceedings before the social courts are free of charge for benefit recipients; a person who would belong to that group on succeeding is treated as one.
§ 86b SGG – Interim relief and § 88 SGG – Claim for failure to act — An interim order may be sought even before a claim is filed; a claim for failure to act lies six months after the application, or three months after the objection.
§ 67 SGG – Reinstatement and § 44 SGB X – Withdrawal of an unlawful decision — Reinstatement within one month of the obstacle falling away; review remains possible after a decision has become final, with benefits paid retrospectively for up to four years.
§ 63 SGB X – Costs in the preliminary procedure and § 64 SGB X – Freedom from fees — Where the objection succeeds, the authority reimburses the necessary expenses, including necessary solicitors' fees; no fees are charged for administrative proceedings.
§ 16(2) SGB I – Making an application — A provider that is not competent must forward the application without delay; the date of receipt at the first office counts.
Federal Social Court, judgment of 12 December 2023 – B 8 SO 20/22 R — A person obliged to arrange the burial under state law is an obligated person under § 74 SGB XII regardless of heirship; referring the applicant to reimbursement claims against a destitute heir does not justify refusal.
Aeternitas on Regional Social Court Hamburg, judgment of 18 June 2020 – L 4 SO 7/19 — There is no statutory deadline for a Sozialbestattung application, but the applicant's financial position at the time of the authority's decision is decisive.
Social Court Frankfurt am Main, judgment of 2 February 2026 – S 30 SO 233/20 — Coverage may be refused where the need could have been avoided by agreeing an instalment arrangement with the funeral director.
Regional Social Court North Rhine-Westphalia, judgment of 25 May 2023 – L 6 AS 444/21 — A plain e-mail does not satisfy the written-form requirement of § 84(1) SGG.
German justice portal: applying for a Beratungshilfeschein and Justice NRW: Beratungshilfe — Apply at the Amtsgericht for your place of residence, online, in writing or orally; contribution of EUR 15 (item 2500 of the RVG fee schedule); granted under § 2 BerHG in all legal matters.
betanet (beta Institut): funeral costs and social assistance — The scope of "necessary costs", and the point that unreasonableness is assessed at the authority's proper discretion, with serious wrongs committed by the deceased capable of being taken into account.