Funeral expense claims after an act of violence
Having to plan a funeral is difficult. We’re sorry for your loss and want to be able to help.
We can help pay funeral expenses if a person or an unborn child has died because of violence or has been killed by a dangerous driver.
- Homicide related funeral expenses
- Loss of an unborn child related funeral expenses
- Payment process
- Timeframe
- Limitations
Homicide related funeral expenses
Specialist support services
Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group provides statewide specialist support to people who have experienced a homicide in their family. They can also give information about what to expect during the investigation and subsequent trial and handling media enquiries.
You can ask the funeral director to help you apply for funeral assistance. We have optional training for funeral directors about helping families after a homicide.
Who can claim
You can claim funeral expenses if you are the person responsible for paying the funeral costs. You do not need to be a family member of the deceased person, but you may be.
We can help with funeral expenses if:
- the death occurred in Queensland
- the cause of death was
- murder
- manslaughter
- dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (e.g. car, bus, truck or motorbike) causing death
- dangerous operation of a motor vessel (e.g. boat or jet ski) causing death.
You can also apply for funeral expenses for an unborn child if the victim of homicide was pregnant. You will need to complete a funeral form for both.
Special conditions
We may not be able to pay financial assistance if the victim is a missing person or the cause of the person’s death is unknown. If this is the case, you can complete the application form at any time, but we may need to wait until after:
- a coroner or police determine the person has more likely than not died from an offence listed above
- police charge a person with an offence listed above
- a cause of death certificate is issued under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 2003 detailing an offence listed above.
Approved costs
You can claim up to $15,000. We can cover a range of expenses associated with a funeral or cremation. These expenses may include:
- embalming and mortuary care
- funeral director’s professional service fee
- funeral celebrant fee
- coffin and floral arrangement for coffin
- cremation costs
- council cemetery fee (interment, grave or burial fee, grave liner)
- venue hire
- funeral notice and service booklet
- certified death certificates and registration of death.
A close family member may also be able to claim other expenses, including:
- the cost of repatriating the deceased person for funeral, cremation or burial purposes
- the purchase of an urn, wall memorial, plaque and tombstone.
We cannot pay funeral costs if the cause of death was:
- an accident or suicide
- because of dangerous use of a bicycle, skateboard, foot scooter or mobility device
- because of dangerous use of non-motorised watercraft (e.g. kayak, canoe, surfboard, paddle board or similar).
How to claim
A close family member that is paying for the funeral can add these expenses to their related victim claim.
If the funeral is being paid for by someone else, complete the funeral expenses form.
When claiming funeral expenses, you need to provide copies of the funeral invoice and/or receipts for funeral expenses.
If funeral costs are being split between different people or insurers, each person can only make a claim for the portion they are paying for.
Regardless of how the funeral costs are divided, we can only pay for up to $15,000 of the costs.
Learn more
- Financial assistance for families affected by homicide
- Dependency payments for people affected by homicide
- Claim other recovery expenses after a homicide
Loss of an unborn child related funeral expenses
Who can claim
You can claim funeral expenses if you are the person paying the funeral costs for an unborn child that was lost due to violence. The act of violence must have occurred in Queensland and have caused the loss of the unborn child.
When applying, you will need to supply medical information confirming the loss was due to an act(s) of violence. You can supply a letter from your doctor, obstetrician or midwife, or you can use this medical certificate.
If you are the person who experienced the violence, you can apply as a primary victim.
Special conditions
If you are a family member of the unborn child, unfortunately you are unable to apply as a related victim due to the rules in our legislation.
Approved costs
We can cover a range of expenses associated with a funeral or cremation. These expenses may include:
- embalming and mortuary care
- funeral director’s professional service fee
- funeral celebrant fee
- coffin and floral arrangement for coffin
- cremation costs
- council cemetery fee (interment, grave or burial fee, grave liner)
- venue hire
- funeral notice and service booklet
- certified death certificates and registration of death.
How to claim
To apply, complete the funeral expenses form.
When claiming funeral expenses, you need to provide copies of the funeral invoice and/or receipts for funeral expenses.
If funeral costs are being split between different people or insurers, each person can only make a claim for the portion they are paying for.
Regardless of how the funeral costs are divided. We can only pay for up to $15,000 of the costs.
Payment process
If your claim is approved, we will send you a ‘notice of decision’. The notice of decision will say which costs we will pay.
Once you receive your notice of decision and your claim is approved, electronic payments will be deposited into your nominated bank account within 10 business days.
Timeframe
We always prioritise the assessment of funeral applications, but it may still take several weeks to assess the claim and pay the cost of approved expenses.
Limitations
We cannot pay for:
- costs associated with a wake
- food or beverage expenses
- additional keepsake urns
- non-essential funeral costs like balloons, doves or car hire.