Pre paid Funeral Funds and Funeral Bonds

Some people may have pre paid their funeral or paid money into a funeral fund during their lifetime to ensure that their funeral expenses are covered and depending upon the arrangements made, all or some of the costs  will be covered.

A list of funeral funds can be obtained by contacting;

Department of Fair Trading

Centrelink

If you are an Australian resident and your partner dies, or an adult for whom you care dies, or are the parent of a young child who dies you may receive a Bereavement Payment.

The purpose of a bereavement payment is to assist with the settling of financial affairs after a person’s death. It is not a separate payment rather, it is a continuation of the payment that was being received prior to the person’s death.

When one of a pensioner couple dies, the surviving partner will receive a lump sum bereavement payment of up to 13 weeks payment of the difference between the combined married rate the couple were paid and the single rate the survivor will be paid (where the new single rate is less than the combined married rate.)

When a single pensioner dies the estate will receive one extra payment after death.

Carer Pensioners will receive a lump sum payment of 13 weeks payments after the death of the person for whom they cared.

Single Parents will continue to be eligible for 7 payments after the death of their child.

Two fortnightly payments ( after the death of a child ) may be paid to a person receiving basic Family Payment.

Carers on Carer Allowance receive one extra Carer Allowance payment after the death of a pensioner in their care.

Stillborn Babies

Stillborn babes are babies that exhibit no signs of life and are at least 20 weeks gestation or weigh at least 400 grams.

Providing that a Maternity Allowance would have been paid had the baby survived, a Bereavement Allowance will be paid as an entitlement.

Centrelink entitlements

The Department of Veteran Affairs

The Department may pay an amount towards the funeral expenses of a qualifying ex-serviceman/woman who dies in destitute circumstances. An application must be made to the Department who will assess the eligibility.

More information is available in the package ‘Planning Ahead - A guide to putting your affairs in order.’

DVA fact sheets

Superannuation Funds

Superannuation funds may agree to early release of preserved superannuation on compassionate grounds to pay for a member’s funeral or to pay for the member’s dependant’s funeral.

Early Release of Superannuation

N.S.W. Aboriginal Land Councils Funeral Assistance Grants

NSWALC can provide a grant for funeral costs of up to $5000 for members and a grant of up to $1000 for non-members.

NSWALC funeral assistance

Motor Accident Authority

For relatives of a person who dies as a result of a motor vehicle accident where the deceased person was not at fault.

Motor Accident Authority information

Workcover

Funeral benefits are payable if a worker dies as a result of a workplace injury.

Workcover information

Relevant Legislation

Homicide Victims

If the deceased person was the victim of a homicide in NSW it may be possible to get assistance from the Victims Compensation Tribunal to cover funeral costs.

Victims Services Information

Unions

Unions often provide a funeral benefit for their members and it is worthwhile checking with the relevant association.

Banks and Building Societies and Deceased Estates

A deceased person’s bank account may in some cases be accessed to pay for funeral expenses prior to probate or letters of administration being granted.

What if there is no money to pay for the funeral?

If a deceased person died out of hospital and there is nobody willing or able to pay for the funeral expenses, then it is the Police Department’s responsibility to assess the circumstances and organise for the cremation or burial.

If the deceased person died in hospital and there is nobody willing or able to pay for the funeral expenses then it is the hospital’s responsibility to assess the circumstances and organise for the cremation or burial.

In both situations mourners will be allowed to attend though they will not have much say in how the funeral is organised.

In both circumstances Department of Health will eventually be responsible for payment.

Department of Health information