Centrelink rules: what to do when the worst happens

It’s a tragic part of life that as we age, we face the death of friends and family more often.

Sadly, at one of the most intense times of your life, you are also expected to organise a funeral and wrap up the deceased’s affairs. 

So, just when you are at your most vulnerable, there is a mountain of administration you can’t avoid. 

We can’t relieve you of that burden, but here’s a quick guide about dealing with Centrelink after a death, and a few other tasks that must be completed. 

Timely contact

First, if your partner, a dependent child or a person you have been caring for has died and any of you are on Services Australia payments, you will need to contact Centrelink within 28 days of the death. 

You can do this in three ways:

• Call the Older Australians line and say bereavement.
• Complete and submit the Advice of death form.
• Visit a service centre.

Details you will need to complete this task include: 

• The deceased person’s Medicare number, Centrelink reference number if applicable, and birthdate and date of death.
• It’s also helpful to have the details of the funeral director, executor and hospital or care facility where the person died if applicable.

If you are on Centrelink payments, you may be eligible for a Bereavement Payment. This payment recognises that bereaved people often need financial help until they have tidied up their loved one’s affairs. Once you have contacted Centrelink about the death, they will assess if you are eligible for a payment and calculate how much you will receive. 

You may also need to transfer to another payment if you have been receiving a Carer Payment or Carer Allowance for the person who died. 

Other payments

Centrelink will let you know what other payments you may be eligible for or your new rate of payment if you have been on a couple’s rate of pay for the Age Pension. 

If the person who died was on your Medicare card and you would like their name removed, you will have to contact Medicare general inquiries on 132 011.

If the person who died is on your concession card or Health Care Card you can go online to your Centrelink account and ask for a replacement. Or you can wait until your current card expires and Centrelink will send you an updated version.

If you are on a Jobseeker payment, you may be excused from mutual obligation responsibilities for up to 14 weeks, depending on your relationship with the deceased.

Check if the person was in the defence force or a partner of a veteran. If they were, the defence force may help with some of the costs or arrange the funeral service. Check the following websites to see if they can help:

• The Department of Veteran Affairs website.
• The Returned and Services League website.

Other vital tasks include registering the death for the death certificate: this is a state responsibility and your funeral director or GP should be able to help.

Once you have the death certificate, it’s a good idea to make multiple copies as you may need them to prove the person’s death, for example to release funds, close accounts or transfer assets. 

Services Australia has also compiled a helpful checklist of who to notify, which you can find here. 

Have you experience a similar situation? Why not share your guidance in the comments section below?

Also read: How to pay your taxes if you are on Centrelink payments