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Death Grant and Funeral Benefit Calculator

When a family member dies in Portugal, Social Security pays one-off support, but the right benefit depends on the situation: the death grant of €1,611.39 (3 × IAS in 2026) when the deceased paid into Social Security, the funeral-expense reimbursement up to that same value, or the €268.57 funeral benefit when there was no social protection. This calculator shows which support applies to your case and how the death grant is shared among the family.

Enter how many entitled people there are in each group. The spouse group counts the spouse or partner of more than 2 years and ex-spouses receiving alimony; descendants count up to age 18 (25 if studying, 27 in a master's, no limit with a disability). Ascendants only count when there is no spouse and no descendants.

Death grant (total, paid once)
€1,611.39
3 × IAS in 2026 (3 × €537.13), shared among the entitled family (Decree-Law 322/90)
Grant total (3 × IAS)€1,611.39
Spouse group (half or in full)€805.70
Descendants group (half or in full)€805.69

Rule applied: both groups exist, so half goes to the spouse/ex-spouses and half to the descendants, in equal shares within each group (Decree-Law 322/90). Per-person figures are rounded to the cent.

The grant must be claimed within 180 days of the death. Funeral expenses paid by a non-entitled person may be deducted (€1,611.39 is the total before deductions).

Estimate for the general Social Security regime. Out of scope, and explained in the article: the detailed eligibility of each recipient (marriage duration, proof of the de facto union, descendants' age limits), deductions of expenses and unduly received pensions, the rural regime (1.5 × IAS minimum), the public-sector CGA regime and the survivor's pension (a separate monthly benefit).

Educational estimate, not advice. Social Security decides the award and the exact amounts; per-person figures are rounded to the cent. Always confirm with Social Security.

The death grant: 3 × IAS, paid once

If the deceased was covered by the general Social Security regime (employees, the self-employed or pensioners), the family is entitled to the death grant (subsídio por morte): a one-off amount of three times the Social Support Index, that is, 3 × €537.13 = €1,611.39 in 2026 (Decree-Law 322/90). It does not depend on how much was contributed and requires no minimum contribution record, unlike the survivor’s pension. The claim must be made within 180 days of the death.

How the grant is shared among the family

The law splits the amount between groups of recipients. When there are a spouse (or a partner of more than 2 years, and ex-spouses receiving alimony) and descendants at the same time, half goes to the spouse group and half to the descendants, in equal shares within each group. If only one of the groups exists, that group receives everything. With no spouse and no descendants, the ascendants (parents, grandparents) who depended on the deceased receive it in full; failing everyone, it can go to other dependent relatives, such as siblings, uncles or nephews.

Which descendants count

Children count, even unborn ones, as do fully adopted children: up to age 18 with no conditions; from 18 to 25 if attending secondary or higher education; up to 27 in a master’s, postgraduate course, thesis or final internship; and with no age limit if they have a disability and receive family benefits. Stepchildren count up to 18 when the deceased owed them alimony. A widow or widower without children only qualifies if the marriage lasted at least 1 year, unless the death resulted from an accident or an illness that appeared after the wedding.

The expense reimbursement: when the payer is not entitled

If you paid the funeral of a Social Security beneficiary but are not entitled to the death grant (a neighbour, a nephew, or anyone outside the entitled family), you can claim reimbursement of the documented expenses, up to the death-grant value: €1,611.39 in 2026. The deadline is shorter: 90 days from the death. In that case, the reimbursed amount is deducted from the grant paid to the entitled family.

The funeral benefit: when the deceased was not covered

If the person who died was not covered by any social-protection scheme with a death grant, whoever proves paying the funeral and lives in Portugal receives the funeral benefit (subsídio de funeral): €268.57 in 2026, which is 50% of the IAS (Portaria 60/2026/1). Since 9 April 2026, Decree-Law 104/2026 reinforced this value to €1,611.39 when the funeral is of a minor, a stillborn child or a recipient of absolute permanent-incapacity benefits without work income. The deadline is 6 months, counted from the first day of the month after the death.

What stays out of this estimate

The survivor’s pension is a separate monthly benefit with its own rules (60% of the deceased’s pension for the spouse, for example) and a 36-month contribution requirement: it has its own calculator. In the rural regime (RESSAA) the death grant has a 1.5 × IAS minimum. In the public-sector CGA regime, the grant is 3 times the monthly pension, capped at 3 × IAS. And funeral expenses reimbursed to third parties, as well as pension amounts unduly received after the death, may be deducted from the death grant.

Worked example

Imagine a worker who paid into Social Security dies, leaving a spouse and a 10-year-old child. The death grant is €1,611.39 (3 × €537.13): half to the spouse (€805.70) and half to the child (€805.69). With two children, the descendants’ half splits equally: €402.85 each (rounded to the cent). If no family member qualified and a friend had paid €2,500 for the funeral, the reimbursement would stop at the €1,611.39 ceiling. And if the deceased were, say, a child with no Social Security coverage, the funeral paid by the parents would qualify for the reinforced funeral benefit of €1,611.39.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the death grant in Portugal in 2026?
It is €1,611.39: three times the Social Support Index (3 × €537.13). It is a one-off amount, paid once, the same for every beneficiary of the general regime, and it is shared when several family members qualify. Do not confuse it with the survivor’s pension, which is monthly.
Who is entitled to the death grant?
In order: the spouse or partner of more than 2 years and ex-spouses receiving alimony; the descendants (up to 18, 25 if studying, 27 in a master’s or postgraduate course, no limit with a disability while on family benefits); the ascendants who depended on the deceased, when there is no spouse and no descendants; and, failing everyone, other dependent relatives such as siblings, uncles or nephews.
How is the death grant split among the family?
Half to the spouse group (spouse, partner and entitled ex-spouses) and half to the descendants, when both exist; within each group it splits equally. If only one group exists, it takes everything. With a spouse and two children, for example: €805.70 to the spouse and about €402.85 to each child.
Does the death grant require a minimum contribution record?
No. It is enough that the deceased was covered by the general (or rural) Social Security regime at the date of death: there is no qualifying period. That differs from the survivor’s pension, which requires 36 months of registered earnings. What does exist is a claim deadline: 180 days from the death.
How much is the funeral benefit in 2026?
The general value is €268.57, which is 50% of the IAS (Portaria 60/2026/1). Since 9 April 2026 it rises to €1,611.39 when the funeral is of a minor, a stillborn child or a recipient of absolute permanent-incapacity benefits without work income (Decree-Law 104/2026). It applies when the deceased was not covered by any scheme with a death grant.
I paid the funeral of someone outside my family. Can I claim anything?
Probably yes. If the deceased was a Social Security beneficiary and you are not entitled to the death grant, you can claim reimbursement of the documented funeral expenses, up to €1,611.39 in 2026, within 90 days of the death. If the deceased was not covered by any scheme, the funeral benefit applies instead.
Is the death grant taxed?
No. Social Security death benefits pay no income tax (IRS) and no Social Security contributions: the amount is paid in full, normally by bank transfer, once the claim is approved.
Can I receive both the death grant and the survivor’s pension?
Yes, they are separate, cumulative benefits. The death grant is a one-off €1,611.39 paid soon after the death; the survivor’s pension is a monthly benefit (60% of the deceased’s pension for the spouse, for example) that requires a 36-month contribution record and lasts while the conditions hold.

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Author: Thorben Rasmus Idel · Reviewed by: Nahar Geva · Last reviewed: 2026-07-11