3.4 - Funerals

This Department will pay funeral expenses, in accordance with the agreement with the New Brunswick Funeral Directors and Embalmers Associations.

Applicants

Applications must be considered under Section 4/4 of the Family Income Security Act. Assessment for eligibility is based on the following:

• the financial situation of the deceased and
• the financial situation of the family (sister, brother, parent, child, grandparent, spouse and common- law spouse) who are part of the deceased’s household.

Our decision is regarding the ability, not the willingness, of the family who are part of the deceased's household to pay.

Family who are not part of the household will be asked if they can contribute toward the cost of the funeral.

A pre-arranged funeral is considered a fixed asset that is fully exempt when determining eligibility for basic assistance for applicants and clients. All applicants/clients are entitled to establish/maintain a pre-arranged funeral with a licensed funeral home prior to or at the time of their application. A copy of the contract should be part of client's file.

Where the deceased resides in one region and the applicant resides in a different region, the application should be completed at the SD office which is most convenient for the applicant.

Clients

Available resources include bank account, trust funds, (including that of Disabled and Blind clients), comfort and clothing account, income of the deceased (including for example, the last Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) cheque expected after death).

Available resources from the family who are part of the deceased's household are also included in the assessment of the client's contribution toward funeral costs.

Applicants

Available resources include bank account, trust funds, income of the deceased (including for example, the last Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) cheque expected after death).

Available resources from the family who are part of the deceased's household are also included in the assessment of the applicant's contribution toward funeral costs.

Death Benefits

Eligibility for Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefits must be verified for all applicants or clients. If the deceased was a veteran for Department of Veteran's Affairs (DVA) Death Benefits and Last Post fund should also be determined.