Financial help if someone dies

If a loved one has died, you might be able to get help with costs like funeral expenses, living expenses and childcare.

Help with funeral, cremation and burial costs

You might be able to get money to help with the cost of a funeral if:

  • the person who died has little or no money
  • you’re the partner, child, parent or guardian of the person who died.

Organising the funeral and paying for it

Your ability to get government help (like a funeral grant or travel support) depends on your situation.

The person who died usually needs to be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident who was living here when they died.

What you can get depends on:

  • if the person who died was your partner or child and how many assets you have
  • how many assets the person who died had and if they were the sole income earner
  • if the person died because of an injury or accident.

Find out what a funeral might cost and the support that’s available to help you pay for it:

There can be a lot to deal with when a loved one dies. Such as registering a death, cancelling a government benefit and finding out who handles the will and estate.

What to do when someone dies

Funeral Grant

This money helps to pay for reasonable funeral, cremation and burial costs when the deceased’s estate cannot pay.

You do not have to be on a benefit to qualify for a funeral grant and you may not need to pay the money back.

Funeral grant — Work and Income

Travel to a funeral or Māori tangi

You may be able to get help from Work and Income to pay for travel to a funeral or tangi. You’ll need to pay Work and Income back.

  • If you’re on a main benefit from Work and Income, apply for an Advance Payment of Benefit.
  • If you’re not on a benefit, contact Work and Income about the Recoverable Assistance Payment. You’ll need to do an income and asset test.

Bereavement — Work and Income

Compassionate airfares

These discounted or flexible tickets help immediate family to book urgent flights to attend a funeral or tangi. Most airlines offer these, but you may need to:

  • book your flights directly with the airline — not online or with a third-party
  • ask for a compassionate fare
  • provide evidence, such as a death certificate.

Compassionate fares — Air New Zealand

If the person dies because of an injury or accident

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) can help with the cost of the burial or cremation of someone who dies after an accident.

Help to pay for the funeral — ACC

If you’re a partner or dependent of someone who dies following an accident, you may be entitled to a one-off, tax-free payment.

One-off payment for partners, children and other dependants — ACC

If someone’s been financially supporting you and has died from an accident, you may be able to get weekly compensation. How much you get depends on how much the person who died earned.

Paying for the loss of income — ACC

If a parent of a child aged under 14 dies because of injury caused by an accident, you may be able to get help with childcare payments for up to 5 years.

Financial help for children of the deceased — ACC

Help with living expenses

If the death of a loved one makes it hard for you to meet your living costs, Work and Income might be able to help.

If the person was a war veteran

If your partner died from disabilities caused by a war or other emergency they served in, you may be entitled to financial help from Veterans’ Affairs. The children and dependants of a deceased veteran may also qualify for support.

Organise your financial affairs before you die

You can plan ahead by putting in writing how you want your financial affairs to be handled and who you want to do this on your behalf.

Who to contact for more help

If you need more help or have questions about the information or services on this page, contact one of the following agencies.

Utility links and page information

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