Bereavement Payments

Legislative Authority

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
Chapter 5 Part 2 Division 4 Sections 242 and 243
Chapter 5 Part 3 Division 4 Sections 255 and 256

Stated Current Purpose/Intent

To provide financial assistance to wholly dependent partners or eligible young persons, dependent on deceased members who were entitled to MRCA compensation, to assist with the financial demands following the member's death.

Current Eligibility Criteria

A wholly dependent partner of a deceased member is entitled to a bereavement payment where the deceased member was receiving or was entitled to receive incapacity payments, permanent impairment periodic payments or the SRDP safety net payment at the time of death.

Notes

1. There is no bereavement payment payable in respect of permanent impairment payments paid as a lump sum or in respect of lump sum redemption of incapacity payments.
2. If there is more than one wholly dependent partner, the payment is split between the partners having regard to the relative loss of financial support each partner has suffered as a result of the member's or former member's death.
3. If there is no wholly dependent partner, the bereavement payment can be made to eligible young person dependants of the deceased member.
4. The payments is equal to 12 instalments of the weekly amount of incapacity payments, permanent impairment periodic payments and/or SRDP payments that the deceased member was receiving or entitled to receive in the week before the week of the death.

Date of Introduction

1 July 2004

Original Purpose/Intent

The original intention has not changed.

Significant Changes in Criteria or Purpose Since Introduction

Nil