What is Disability Compensation Bereavement Payment (formerly known as Disability Pension Bereavement Payment)?
Disability compensation bereavement payment primarily provides financial assistance to the partner of a deceased veteran who was on a disability compensation payment. It is designed to assist the widow/widower to gradually adjust his or her financial situation, and to assist meeting costs associated with the bereavement.
Disability compensation bereavement payments can also provide support for the families of single Australian veterans previously in receipt of Special Rate or Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) rate and assist with funeral expenses where the deceased dies in indigent circumstances.
Calculating the rate of Disability Compensation Bereavement Payment
A Disability Compensation Bereavement Payment in most cases is equal to 6 fortnights worth of the deceased's disability compensation payment as follows:
- For a member of a couple- calculated at the rate payable on the first pension payday after the Department became aware of the death; or
- For a single pensioner - calculated at the rate payable on the first pension pay day after death.
The rate of disability compensation payment payable must take into account any compensation offsetting the person was subject to and must include the specific disability allowance if the person was receiving it.
In certain circumstances, where a claim for disability compensation is determined after the death of the veteran, the Bereavement Payment may need to be calculated.
Impact on other bereavement assistance
Payments of disability compensation bereavement payment have no impact on either:
- Income support bereavement payments; or
- Funeral benefits
Payment of disability compensation bereavement payment
Disability compensation bereavement payment is normally paid as a lump sum to the deceased veteran's partner or the deceased veteran's estate. However, if the partner of the veteran dies before the payment is made, alternative payment arrangements will apply.
Payment of disability compensation bereavement payment where the partner dies before the veteran