Asset test - deceased person with surviving partner

A Funeral Grant can be paid towards the reasonable funeral expenses of a person's funeral if there is a surviving partner and the reasonable funeral expenses cannot be met by the total assessable assets.

Total assessable assets are the total of:

• the deceased person's assessable estate before the payment of any debts and
• the assets of the surviving partner that are in excess of the asset exemption

Note the surviving partner must also meet an income test.

A Funeral Grant cannot be paid if the reasonable funeral expenses can be met by the total assessable assets.

The deceased person's assessable estate and the surviving partner's assets do not include non-assessable assets.

An asset exemption applies to the surviving partner's assets. Any assets of the surviving partner that are less than the asset exemption must not be included in the Funeral Grant assessment.

The asset exemption does not apply to the deceased person's assessable estate.

Note if the deceased person was getting a benefit, and terminal benefit was paid, the continued payment may form part of the deceased person's assessable estate.