The $50,000 Centrelink Bereavement Payment is a one‑off lump sum for eligible partners, de facto partners, or carers when the person they supported dies, based on their prior income support history.
The $50,000 Centrelink Bereavement Payment is a lump-sum benefit offered by Services Australia to help surviving partners, de facto partners, or carers cope financially after the death of someone they supported. To qualify, both individuals typically needed to have been receiving a Centrelink income support payment or pension for at least 12 months. The lump sum is calculated based on the difference between the former couple’s combined rate and the new single rate over a 14-week period. Carers may also qualify if they were financially dependent on the deceased.
Surviving Partner or De facto:
Must have lived with or been financially dependent on the deceased, and either both were receiving Centrelink payments for at least 12 months.
Carers:
If you received Carer Payment or Allowance while caring for the deceased, you may be eligible for up to 14 weeks of bereavement allowance or a lump sum .
Income Support History:
Applicant and deceased must have been on income support or pension (e.g., Age Pension, JobSeeker, Youth Allowance) for a minimum of 12 months before death.
Timely Notification and Application:
Death should be reported promptly; payments are assessed over the first 14 weeks. Most claims must be made within 26 weeks .
Is It $50,000?
The payment is calculated as the difference between the couple's combined fortnightly rate and the new single rate over 7–14 fortnights, which in many cases can total around $50,000.
Special Bereavement Bonuses:
Additional lump sums may apply if the deceased was part of the Pension Bonus Scheme, depending on years deferred .
In short, to be eligible for a lump-sum bereavement payment—potentially totaling around $50,000—you must have been the spouse, de facto partner, or carer of someone on Centrelink payments for at least a year. Notify Centrelink promptly after death and apply within the required timeframe to receive the benefit. Financial hardship won’t be compounded during the transition from couple to single support.