Automatic Grant of ISS During the Bereavement Period

Last amended 17 June 2009

Bereavement payment where survivor receives automatic grant of ISS

The information provided in this section outlines the bereavement guidelines and effective dates relating to automatic grants of income support supplement (i.e. where a veteran dies and the surviving partner is eligible for automatic grant of income support supplement and war widow's/widower's pension).    

Effective date for income support supplement grant

The date of effect for the grant of income support supplement depends on whether section 53K VEA or section 53L VEA applies to the survivor after the partner's death.

Note: Section 53L of the VEA will apply to the great majority of cases.

Tax Status of Payments made after bereavement

Under the date of effect guidelines, if the survivor was receiving partner service pension (PSP) prior to the death of the veteran, the tax exempt bereavement payment and the taxable ongoing payment made to the survivor during the 98 day bereavement period are shown in the table below. These examples represent the daily rates applicable.

Payment of war widow/widower pension

In all cases where the income support supplement and war widow's/widower's pension (WWP) grant are automatic, WWP is granted from the day after the death of the veteran.    

Legislative references

The grant of war widow's/widower's pension is not effective until the day after death.    

The income support supplement (ISS) eligibility depends on being a war widow/widower, therefore ISS is not payable until the day after death.    

The bereavement period starts on the day of death.    

Survivor receives a non-automatic grant of ISS

The details about non-automatic ISS grant and date of effect are provided in another topic.