Compensation for Funeral Expenses

Legislative Authority

Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004
Chapter 5 Part 5
Sections 265 to 268

Stated Current Purpose/Intent

Funeral assistance is a one-off payment to assist with the costs of the funeral of an eligible member.

Current Eligibility Criteria

Compensation of up to $11,267.70 is available for the cost of the funeral of a deceased member where:

• liability for the deceased member's death has been accepted under the MRCA;
• the deceased member satisfied the criteria for receiving SRDP during some period of his or her life; or
• the deceased member was entitled to maximum permanent impairment compensation for accepted conditions immediately before his or her death (i.e. assessed at or above 80 points).

Notes

1. The ADF currently bears the cost of a military funeral of ADF members who die in-service if the family choose to have a military funeral.  If the cost is borne by the ADF, no funeral assistance is payable under the MRCA.
2. The above rate of payment is applicable as at 1 July 2014 and is indexed annually on 1 July.

Date of Introduction

1 July 2004

Original Purpose/Intent

The payment is based on the funeral expense compensation available under Defence Determination 2003/21.

The original intention has not changed.

Significant Changes in Criteria or Purpose Since Introduction

Nil