Centrelink’s Bereavement assistance
Bereavement assistance from Services Australia (Centrelink) depends on your circumstances and your relationship to the person that has died.
If you are receiving a support payment, Centrelink may provide you with financial assistance and support services when your partner or spouse has died. Financial assistance is dependent on your financial circumstances, your relationship with the person that has died, and when you advise Centrelink of the death.
If you are the spouse or partner of the person, you may receive a lump sum bereavement payment to assist you to transition to a single income.
Currently, to be eligible for bereavement payments, both you and your partner must have been receiving an income support payment or a pension for at least 12 months. The amount you may receive varies and is calculated over a 14-week bereavement period which commences on the day the person has died.
If you are not receiving a Centrelink payment and your partner has died, you may be eligible for an income support payment such as jobseeker or youth allowance. These payments can be claimed online, over the phone or by visiting a Centrelink office.
You may be eligible for a bereavement payment if your partner or spouse has died and you are receiving one of the following:
Age Pension
ABSTUDY Living Allowance
JobSeeker Payment
Youth Allowance
Farm Household Allowance
If somebody close to you has died, you may get an exemption from mutual obligations or activity test requirements for JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment and Special Benefit.
If you are pregnant, you may be paid an additional payment.
Pension Bonus Scheme
The Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment may be paid if your spouse or partner was registered with the Pension Bonus Scheme through Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs and died before making a successful claim for the Age Pension and Pension Bonus.
Carers
If the person you care for dies, you may get extra payment assistance after they die.
Carer Allowance:
You may get a lump sum payment of up to 14 weeks when someone you care for dies.
To be eligible, all of the following must apply:
- you receive Carer Allowance for the adult who died
- you get an income support payment that doesn’t include an extra payment when someone dies
- you do not get Carer Payment
Carer Payment:
You may keep receiving carer payment for up to 14 weeks after the person that you care for dies. You may also get a lump sum bereavement payment, depending on your circumstances. This will give you time to apply for another income support payment if you need to.
Single People
There currently is no extra lump bereavement payment available from Centrelink when a single person dies.
For further information
Contacting Centrelink
It is important that Centrelink (Services Australia) is advised within 28 days when a person receiving Centrelink benefits has died.
We are able to submit the Centrelink Advice of Death Form (SA116) required by Centrelink on your behalf after a funeral service has taken place or you may choose to do this yourself.
If you would like us to submit the form, we will require you to provide the Centrelink Reference Number and Medicare number for the person that has died.
We recommend that you contact Centrelink directly to confirm that they have received the advice form from us and to make enquiries regarding bereavement payments (outlined below) and support services.
If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian it is recommended that Centrelink is contacted as soon as possible to ensure that they are aware not to unnecessarily attempt contact during Sorry Business.