In brief

• From 1 January 2027, funeral homes will be able to submit applications for funeral benefits on behalf of clients online.
• ZUS is preparing an electronic platform for this purpose, which is intended to reduce paper formalities.
• The change is particularly important for businesses operating in smaller towns.

Applications online

From 1 January 2027, funeral homes will be able to handle formalities related to the funeral benefit with ZUS on behalf of clients, and they will do so online (Zasiłek na nowych zasadach. Zmiany od 1 stycznia – WNP.pl). The Social Insurance Institution (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych) is preparing a dedicated electronic platform for this purpose (ZUS szykuje zmianę w zasiłkach pogrzebowych. Rozwiązanie przyspieszy wypłatę pieniędzy – Rzeczpospolita).

No more paper

The new solution is intended to limit the need to personally deliver documents to the office. The funeral home that takes over the formalities will not have to bring paperwork to a ZUS branch. The solution is meant to relieve entrepreneurs who until now handled these matters on paper (Zasiłek pogrzebowy na nowych zasadach. Zmiany od 1 stycznia 2027 r. – Dziennik.pl).

What it means for families

The change will also cover the families of the deceased who use this benefit. They will be able to hand over part of the formalities to the funeral service provider, and matters are to be handled more quickly. The impact will be felt most by businesses in smaller towns, where travelling to the office has previously been troublesome.

Context

The materials mention a planned increase in the funeral benefit, but without indicating a legal act or a deadline, so this cannot be confirmed here. Procedures are meant to become more digital to a greater extent. The changes also concern the broader funeral services market, where the popularity of cremation and columbaria is growing.