Carer Payment (CP) or Carer Allowance (CA) customers and bereavement assistance 099-04000000

From 1 July 2012, bereavement assistance for a CA (adult) recipient depends on whether or not the carer receives CA and an income support payment (other than CP).

If they are receiving:

• CA only, the carer is not entitled to a Bereavement Payment
• both CA and CP (for the same or another care receiver), the carer is not entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment, but may be entitled to bereavement assistance in relation to CP
• both CA and an income support payment (other than Carer Payment) that does not qualify them for a Bereavement Payment, they are entitled to CA up to the end of the bereavement rate continuation period and may be entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment
• both CA and an income support payment, including Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), that qualifies for a Bereavement Payment, they are not entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment

The CA Bereavement Payment will be the equivalent of up to 7 instalments of CA. The payment will be paid as a lump sum to the carer on notification of the death of the care receiver.

If the care provided for CA is shared, each carer will receive a CA Bereavement Payment based on the percentage of care they provided prior to the care receiver's death. However, if the care provided for CA is shared care and only one carer is receiving CA on the day of the care receiver's death and that carer receives 100% of the rate of CA, then that CA carer will be paid the full rate (100%) of the CA Bereavement Payment.

The death is recorded by the agency to ensure the carer's payment is correctly reassessed and that any bereavement payments associated with other payments received by the care receiver are processed, for example Disability Support Pension (DSP).

The notification period for the occurrence of a bereavement event is 28 days for carers receiving CP and/or CA.

For CP customers, bereavement assistance after the death of a care receiver may include a continuation of CP during the bereavement period and a Lump Sum Bereavement Payment.

Under short term and episodic care provisions, after the death of a care receiver, CP (child) customers may receive a Lump Sum Bereavement Payment and continuation of CP (child) during the bereavement period, even if this exceeds the date of the Medical Report, Medical Certificate end date, or end of episodic care period.

Wife Pension transfer to CP (XWP)

The 14 week bereavement continuation period only applies to CP (XWP) customers where the last or only care receiver dies. CP (XWP) customers may be eligible for a Lump Sum Bereavement Payment if their partner dies, or they only get CA for one care receiver. For more details, see Transfer from Wife Pension (WP) to Carer Payment (CP).

From 1 July 2012, carers receiving CA (adult) who also receive an income support payment (other than CP) who are not entitled to a Lump Sum Bereavement Payment following the death of the CA care receiver, will be eligible for a CA Bereavement Payment.

Bereavement Payment for CA (adult) recipients depends on whether or not the carer receives other payments and their payment type. If they are receiving:

• CA only, the carer is not entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment
• both CA and Carer Payment (CP) (for the same or another care receiver), the carer is not entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment, but may be entitled to bereavement assistance in relation to CP depending on which care receiver passed away
• both CA and an income support payment (other than Carer income support payment (other than CP) that does not qualify them for a Bereavement Payment, they may be entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment
• both CA and an income support payment (including DVA)) that qualifies them for a Bereavement Payment, they are not entitled to a CA Bereavement Payment

The CA Bereavement Payment will be the equivalent of up to 7 instalments of CA. The payment will be paid as a lump sum to the carer on notification of the death of the care receiver.

If the care receiver is a child, a Bereavement Payment for the carer may be payable. See Death of a child care receiver and the effect on Carer Allowance (CA).

If the care receiver or carer was a member of a couple, their partner may be entitled to bereavement assistance.

If the carer has passed away, see Death of a carer (CLK).