When someone close to you dies, Centrelink may provide financial support to help you through the transition. This guide explains every bereavement payment available in Australia in 2026, who is eligible, how much you can receive, and exactly how to claim.
What is the Centrelink bereavement payment?
The Centrelink bereavement payment is a lump sum to help surviving partners transition after the death of someone they were supporting. It is not a general payment available to all families — eligibility depends on what payments you and the deceased were receiving at the time of death.
Bereavement payment for surviving partners
Who is eligible
- Both you and your partner must have been receiving an income support payment for at least the previous 12 months
- Qualifying payments include Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, JobSeeker and Youth Allowance
- You must have been living together as a couple
How much you receive
The payment is calculated over a 14-week bereavement period. It equals the difference between what you received as a couple and what you will receive as a single person. For a couple both on the full Age Pension, this typically amounts to approximately $2,000 to $4,000.
How to claim
Contact Centrelink on 132 300 as soon as possible. Notify Centrelink within 14 days to avoid overpayments. Ask specifically about bereavement payment eligibility when you call. You will need the death certificate and your partner's Centrelink reference number.
Bereavement payment for carers
If you were receiving Carer Payment or Carer Allowance for someone who dies, you may continue receiving those payments for up to 14 weeks. This gives you time to apply for another payment if needed.
Age Pension after your partner dies
As of March 2026, the current Age Pension rates are:
- Single person: $1,200.90 per fortnight
- Each member of a couple: $905.20 per fortnight
Moving from the couples rate to the singles rate increases your individual fortnightly payment by approximately $295. Centrelink adjusts this automatically — you do not need to apply for a new pension.
Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment
A separate payment is available if your partner was registered for the Pension Bonus Scheme and died before making a successful claim for the Age Pension and Pension Bonus. You can claim up to 26 weeks after the death using form SA388, available at servicesaustralia.gov.au.
DVA bereavement payments
If the deceased was a veteran receiving DVA benefits, their dependants may be eligible for DVA bereavement support. Contact DVA on 1800 555 254 as soon as possible.
Superannuation — often overlooked
Superannuation is separate from Centrelink and is often the most significant source of funds after a death. Contact every super fund directly. Use the ATO Super Lookup at ato.gov.au to find accounts you may not be aware of.
Notify Centrelink within 14 days
If the deceased was receiving any Centrelink payment, you must notify Centrelink within 14 days. Payments that continue after death must be repaid.
Centrelink Bereavement line: 132 300 — Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm.
Managing the rest of the estate
Alongside Centrelink, you will need to notify banks, super funds, utilities, and dozens of other organisations. WithPassage generates personalised bereavement letters for each provider, sends them automatically, and tracks every response.
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