Bereavement Assistance

Information about preparing for bereavement is available through DVA, including a Planning Ahead Kit, key forms and advice about what to do upon death.

If you are the partner, dependant or carer of a deceased person who was receiving a pension from DVA, you must notify the Department as soon as possible after the death. Information on compensation after death is available through My Account or by contacting DVA directly.

Bereavement Payments

Once DVA has been notified about the death of a pension recipient, depending on circumstances, bereavement payments may be payable. A bereavement payment is a one-off, non-taxable payment designed to help with the costs that may follow the death of a pensioner or member/former member. The bereavement payment available depends on whether the person's service is covered by the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). There is no bereavement payment for those with service under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA).

VEA

If the deceased person was receiving income support or a disability pension under the VEA, their partner or their estate (if they were single) may be entitled to a bereavement payment.

• BR04 VEA Bereavement Information

MRCA

If the deceased serving or former serving member was receiving incapacity payments, permanent impairment periodic payments, or the Special Rate Disability Pension under the MRCA, their wholly dependent partner may be entitled to a bereavement payment. If there is no wholly dependent partner, the payment can be made to a dependent child or dependent children of the deceased.

• MRC18 - MRCA Bereavement Payments

Funeral assistance

Funeral assistance is available to help families meet the cost of the funeral. The assistance available depends on whether the person's service is covered by the VEA, MRCA or SRCA.

Where the cost of a member’s funeral is met by the ADF for members who die while still serving, no funeral expenses are payable by DVA.

VEA

A funeral benefit is a one-off payment, up to a maximum amount, provided under the VEA to assist with the funeral costs of an eligible veteran and may also assist with the costs of transporting the veteran's body from the place of death to the normal place of residence.

A funeral benefit may also be granted where an eligible dependent dies in indigent circumstances.

• BR04 - VEA Bereavement Information 

MRCA

Under the MRCA, compensation for funeral expenses can be paid following the death of a member or former member of the ADF.

• MRC17 - MRCA - Funeral expenses

SRCA

Funeral expenses can be reimbursed up to a maximum amount if the deceased died as a result of a compensable injury or disease.

• MCS13 - How to claim benefits under the SRCA

Commemoration

For eligible Australian veterans, an official commemoration may be provided in a cemetery or a crematorium at the site of interment, or in an Office of Australian War Graves Garden of Remembrance. When you notify DVA about a death, you will be provided with additional information about services through the Office of Australian War Graves.

• WG02 - Official Commemoration
• WG01 - What does the office of Australian War Graves do?