CPAM Death Grant France: How to Claim the Capital Décès (2026 Guide)
What the CPAM Capital Décès Actually Pays
If someone who was working, receiving unemployment benefits, or on paid sick leave in France dies, their family qualifies for a flat-rate state death grant called the capital décès. The payment comes from the CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) — France's primary health insurance fund.
For private-sector employees, the 2026 rate is a flat €4,009, tax-free. Self-employed workers (artisans and commerçants) qualify for a higher amount — €9,612 if still active, or €3,844.80 if retired. Dependent children of self-employed workers under 16 (or under 20 if in full-time education) can each receive an orphan benefit of €2,403.
The grant is separate from life insurance, employer prévoyance benefits, and pension entitlements. It exists specifically to help cover immediate costs after a death.
Who Can Claim — and the 30-Day Priority Window
The CPAM death grant is not paid automatically. Someone must file for it.
Priority beneficiaries — the surviving spouse, PACS partner, or dependent children — have exactly one month from the date of death to claim. During this window, their claim takes precedence over all other potential claimants. Miss this 30-day deadline and the priority status is lost permanently.
After the priority window closes, any heir can claim the grant for up to two years from the date of death. But without priority status, multiple claimants can create disputes.
The eligibility requirement is straightforward: the deceased must have been actively employed, receiving unemployment benefits (ARE), or on paid sick leave at any point during the three months before death.
How to File: Form Cerfa S3180
The claim is submitted using Form Cerfa S3180 (for employees) or the equivalent self-employed form. You file with the CPAM office that covered the deceased — typically the office in the département where they lived or worked.
You'll need:
- A certified copy of the acte de décès (death certificate from the mairie)
- Your own identification
- A French bank account number (RIB) for the payout
- The deceased's most recent pay slips or proof of employment/benefits
- A marriage certificate or PACS registration (if claiming as spouse/partner)
Processing takes two to six weeks once all documents are received. The payment goes directly to the bank account on the RIB.
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The Employer Prévoyance Benefit Most Families Miss
Beyond the CPAM grant, families should check whether the deceased had employer-funded prévoyance complémentaire décès coverage. Under French law, all employers must fund a complementary death benefit scheme for cadre (managerial-level) employees at a minimum rate of 1.50% of salary up to the annual social security ceiling.
If the employer was compliant, this coverage typically pays a lump sum of one to four times the annual salary. If the employer failed to register the coverage, French case law holds them personally liable for three times the annual social security ceiling — €144,180 in 2026.
Contact the deceased's HR department or mutuelle provider to inquire about any prévoyance death benefit.
Key Deadlines at a Glance
- 30 days — Priority CPAM claim window for spouses/partners/dependent children
- 2 years — Absolute deadline for any non-priority claimant
- No deadline — Employer prévoyance claim (check the policy terms)
The Someone Died in France: English Speaker's Emergency Guide includes a complete benefits checklist covering the CPAM grant, employer prévoyance, and pension entitlements so nothing is missed during the claims process.
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