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There may also be some financial entitlements that could, (subject to eligibility) help to ease the financial burden of funeral expenses. Centrelink and/or the Department of Veterans Affairs will be able to advise you on your bereavement entitlements. The Department of Family and Youth Services (FAYS) may also be able to help in situations of extreme financial hardship. NOTIFICATION CHECKLIST There will a be number of organizations and agencies that may need to be advised following bereavement. Here you can print out a checklist to guide you in this process. Tick off or delete each listing as it relates to your own circumstances, you may also want to keep the form as a record of who has been advised and when for future reference. Download form click here. (Return to the Facing a Bereavement page by clicking on the “back” arrow on your toolbar) Our welfare officer can assist you with any referrals you may need, before and after the funeral. Ex Service Personnel The helpful staff at The Department of Veterans Affairs Bereavement Unit will be able to advise you on entitlements. For T.P.I. Service personnel, those on an Extreme Disability Allowance or whose death is officially recognised as related to active war service, additional benefits may be available to help cover funeral expenses and memorialisation. The RSL, Legacy and the Vietnam Veterans Association can also help with support and advocacy. Bereavement Resource
Library The Death Certificate You will need a certified copy of the death certificate to finalise the estate. This is not to be confused with the certificate that is provided by the Doctor or Coroner at the time of death. The certified copy is issued by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and may take a couple of weeks to arrive, or even longer if the death has been referred to the Coroner. Your funeral consultant will apply for your copy, the cost of which is covered in our inclusive fee. Other Help and Support There are numerous specialised support groups available to help your family through the difficult time of facing the loss of a loved one. Our Welfare Officer, Cheryl Billett is available to assist your family if needed and ensure they are made aware of any financial assistance or other support that may be available to them. As a corporate member of NALAG (The National Association of Loss and Grief) we have access to a wide variety of bereavement care resources. If you feel that you, or a member of your family is not coping and could benefit from some additional support, please contact Cheryl who will suggest the best people to talk to. Support and advice is available before and after a bereavement. Obligation free, immediate advice is available at any time by contacting Knight Brenton James on our freecall number 1800 067 960. For non urgent matters, you may feel more comfortable to email us on administration@kbj.com.au. We will reply by the next working day. OTHER INTERNET RESOURCES We recommend obtaining as much information as you can about your own special circumstances. The internet is a perfect way to gather information, at your own pace and in complete privacy. Here are some of the sites that we recommend. GrieflinkSponsored by the South Australian Department of Human Services and created by NALAG (The National Association for Loss and Grief (SA)) and the University of Adelaide, Grieflink is an information resource for the those bereaved and grieving, their carers, friends and colleagues, as well as health and welfare workers. It also contains some helpful links to more specialised grief support areas.
The Department of Veterans Affairs An easily navigated and informative site, with all of the information you will need about Veterans issues, and what services and benefits are available to assist veterans, widows and their families including:
Centrelink Centrelink’s website details information on pension and benefit entitlements. If you are facing a bereavement, are in financial crisis or needing special help, or are caring for someone who is elderly, ill, disabled and/or infirm, Centrelink may be able to assist. It is a large and potentially complicated site, but an effort is made to accommodate new visitors by a “First Visitors” index with an easily followed guide to the information. The “What’s New” section details up to date payment rates. Some specific topics on the Centrelink site relate to:
This site also provides information for community and welfare groups that are assisting families with special needs, as well as Centrelink’s own counselling and social work services. There is a list of downloadable publications in PDF format at: www.centrelink.gov.au |