Almost 38,000 lump sums in death benefit were offered in 2002 and over 31,500 similar sums were provided in the first nine months of this year. The death benefit is 1,100 lei and its size is set by the state social insurance budget law.

In a response for IPN, the National House of Social Insurance (CNAS) said the death benefit is provided with the aim of financially supporting the family of the dead person or the person who covers the costs associated with the burial. The benefit is provided once, in a fixed sum, regardless of the cause of death.

The persons must file an application to the local house of social insurance at the dead person’s place of residence or domicile within at most 12 months and must present the death certificate issued by the civil status agency.