Deceased child

A Funeral Grant can be paid for the reasonable funeral expenses of a child's funeral if:

• the deceased child was ordinarily resident in New Zealand on the date of death and
• the reasonable funeral expenses cannot be met by the total assessable assets, meaning:
  • the deceased child's assessable estate before the payment of any debts and
  • the combined assets of the parents, that are in excess of the asset exemption and
• the parent's income is below the appropriate income limit

If the parents are separated, asset and income details are not required for the estranged other parent or any other person who is liable in law to maintain the child.

A Funeral Grant can be paid for the reasonable funeral expenses of a stillborn child.

A baby is stillborn if the baby was not alive when born, and:

• weighed 400g or more at birth or
• was born after the 20th week of pregnancy

A Funeral Grant can be paid if the child was born alive and then died, whether or not the pregnancy was longer than 20 weeks.

If the child was included in their parent's main benefit or ongoing Extra help assistance, that assistance should be reviewed to determine if they are no longer eligible or if there is any change in the rate payable.

For more information see:

• Child changes in the relevant Main benefit
• Changes and reviews in the relevant Extra help