Organization : Department of Human Services
Facility : Bereavement Payment
Country : Australia
Website : https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/bereavement-payment
Human Services Bereavement Payment
A lump sum or short term payment when your partner, child or the person you were caring for has died.
Related : Department of Human Services CCeS Centrelink Confirmation eService Australia : www.statusin.org/41929.html
When an Adult Has Died
Eligibility
You may get this payment if :
1. your partner dies and you were both getting :
** a pension from us or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, or
** a benefit such as Newstart Allowance or Parenting Payment for at least 12 months
2. you are caring for an adult who dies and you were receiving Carer Payment for them
3. you are getting :
** Carer Allowance for an adult who dies, and
** an income support payment, other than Carer Payment, where the income support payment does not qualify you for a bereavement payment, or
4. your partner was a member of the Pension Bonus Scheme and died before making a claim for the bonus
For some payments, they may continue for 14 weeks following the death to give you time to seek other income support.
These include :
** Carer Payment
** Wife Pension and
** Partner Allowance
Payments
The type and amount of bereavement payment you get will depend on your individual circumstances and when you tell us about the person’s death.
Carer Allowance
If you are getting Carer Allowance for an adult who dies, and an income support payment, other than Carer Payment, that does not qualify you for Bereavement Payment, you may get a Carer Allowance Bereavement Payment. We pay this, of up to 7 instalments of Carer Allowance, as a lump sum.
When a Child Has Died
Eligibility
You may get a bereavement payment for a child who dies if you were getting one of the following payments for them :
** Family Tax Benefit or you were eligible to receive it
** Carer Payment
** Carer Allowance and you were also eligible to receive Family Tax Benefit
** Double Orphan Pension
Loss of an Infant
If your baby died after birth, your family may be eligible to get :
** Parental Leave Pay or Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement paid with Family Tax Benefit Part A
** Dad and Partner Pay, and
** Family Tax Benefit Bereavement Payment
Loss of a Baby through Stillbirth
If your baby was stillborn, your family may be eligible to get :
** Parental Leave Pay or
** Stillborn Baby Payment, and
** Dad and Partner Pay
Time limits apply to claim these payments. You must submit your claim within 52 weeks from the day of the delivery of your stillborn child.
Claiming
Generally you won’t need to claim for bereavement payment. Call the bereavement line about the death and we will help you sort out which payment you may be able to get.
For some Bereavement Payments, you may need to submit a claim. Read more about claiming the following payments :
** Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment – you must submit a claim within 26 weeks of your partner’s death
** Stillborn Baby Payment if you have a stillbirth or infant death
** Parental Leave Pay if you have a stillbirth or infant death
** Family Tax Benefit if you have an infant death
** Dad and Partner Pay if you have a stillbirth or infant death
You may also need to provide proof of the person’s death, usually a death certificate.