Examples
Example - married couple
Virantha has made an application for Funeral Grant for his partner Maia's reasonable funeral expenses.
They were getting Jobseeker Support at the time of Maia's death, without any other income. Terminal benefit was not paid.
Virantha provided evidence of the funeral costs and MSD determined the following to be reasonable funeral expenses:
Flowers | $150 |
Food for reception | $250 |
Cremation fee (and related expenses) | $1,030 |
Pine casket | $1,200 |
Transport to crematorium | $150 |
Musician hire | $240 |
Venue hire | $640 |
Professional services | $2,920 |
Celebrant fee | $200 |
Total reasonable funeral expenses | $6,780 |
Step 1 - calculate the total assessable assets
Deceased person's assessable estate | $1,890.00 |
Add surviving partners total assets | $2,530.00 |
Less asset exemption for surviving partner | $2,280.58 |
Equals total assessable assets | $2,139.42 |
Step 2 - calculate balance of reasonable funeral expenses
Note Funeral Grant is not payable if the reasonable funeral expenses are less than the total assessable assets.
Reasonable funeral expenses | $6,780.00 |
Less total assessable assets | $2,139.42 |
Equals balance of reasonable funeral expenses | $4,640.58 |
Step 3 - calculate Funeral Grant payable
The balance of Maia's reasonable funeral expenses is more than the maximum Funeral Grant of $2,697.43 (as at 1 April 2026).
The maximum Funeral Grant of $2,697.43 can be paid towards Maia's reasonable funeral expenses.
Example - single client
Mikaere has applied for a Funeral Grant for his sister Kara's tangihanga costs. Kara was single with no children.
Kara was getting Supported Living Payment when she passed away and terminal benefit was not paid.
Mikaere provided evidence of the tangihanga costs and MSD determined the following to be reasonable funeral expenses:
Kai (food) | $1,120.00 |
Cooling mats (to keep Kara's body cool) | $154.00 |
Casket | $1,615.00 |
Petrol to transport Kara's body to the urupā (burial ground) | $145.00 |
Total reasonable funeral expenses | $3,034.00 |
Step 1 - calculate the total assessable assets
As Kara is not a child and does not have a surviving partner her total assessable assets are equal to her assessable estate of $980.
Step 2 - calculate balance of reasonable funeral expenses
Note Funeral Grant is not payable if the reasonable funeral expenses are less than the total assessable assets.
Reasonable funeral expenses | $3,034.00 |
Less total assessable assets | $980.00 |
Equals balance of reasonable funeral expenses | $2,054.00 |
Step 3 - calculate Funeral Grant payable
The balance of Kara's reasonable funeral expenses is less than the maximum Funeral Grant of $2,697.43 (as at 1 April 2026).
A Funeral Grant of $2,054.00 can be paid towards Kara's reasonable funeral expenses.
