Death of a care receiver (CLK) 009-03090000

Before any action is taken, confirmation of death must be provided. Once confirmed, it is important that the death be recorded as soon as possible to ensure that customers receive their correct entitlement.

The procedures required to complete a death action vary according to which family member has died and which payments the family were receiving.

The notification period for the occurrence of a bereavement event is 28 days for carers in receipt of CP and/or CA. The References page contains links to the policy.

A carer receiving CA (child) may qualify for a bereavement payment following the death of a child care receiver. The bereavement payment depends on whether or not the child met the definition of a Family Tax Benefit (FTB) child:

• Where the child met the definition of an FTB child immediately before their date of death the carer may be entitled to 14 weeks of bereavement payment. This will be paid as a lump sum. It does not matter if the carer received FTB payments or not
• Where the child did not meet the definition of a FTB child the carer may be entitled to four weeks of bereavement payment. This will be paid as a lump sum

The bereavement payment is paid at the CA rate paid that immediately applied before the child's death.

There is no lump sum bereavement payment for a CA (auto) child.

CA (auto) is not paid under CA bereavement conditions but continues to be paid because of the CP bereavement period.

Where the carer received CA (auto), this will remain current only for the duration of the Carer Payment bereavement period. No bereavement lump sum will be payable to the carer in respect of the deceased child care receiver but a bereavement lump sum maybe payable for CP.

When the carers CP (child) cancels at the end of the bereavement period, CA (auto) will also cancel immediately.

• When an adult care receiver dies, the level of bereavement assistance depends on whether:
• the carer is single or a member of a couple
• the carer’s partner was receiving an income support payment or not
• the carer is getting CP (XWP)
• When a child care receiver dies, the level of bereavement assistance depends on whether:
• the carer has a child with a severe disability or severe medical condition
• the carer has one or two or more disabled children
• the carer is getting CP (XWP)
• When a child care receiver dies, and they were in a short term or episodic care situation, the CP (child) carer will receive a lump sum bereavement payment and continuation of CP during the bereavement period even if this exceeds the date of the Medical Report, Medical Certificate end date, or end of the episodic or short term care period