Centrelink Bereavement Payment

An Australian resident may be eligible for bereavement payment. Short-term income support payment to help adjust following the death of a partner.

Bereavement Payment

Helps ease the adjustment to changed financial circumstances after the death of your partner, child or person you were caring for.

When an adult has died

Eligibility

You may be eligible for Bereavement Payment if either:

• your partner dies and when they died you were both receiving:
  • 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
• you are caring for an adult who dies and you were receiving Carer Payment for them
• you are receiving Carer Allowance for an adult who dies, and also an income support payment other than Carer Payment that does not qualify you for a Bereavement Payment, or
• your partner was a member of the Pension Bonus Scheme and died before making a claim for the bonus

For some payments, such as Carer Payment, Wife Pension and Partner Allowance, the payment may continue for 14 weeks following the death to give you time to seek other income support if necessary.

When a child has died

Eligibility

You will be eligible for a Bereavement Payment for a child who dies if you were receiving 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 receive:

• 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 receive:

• 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.