Death of a client
When a client dies the service provider has no further entitlement to the client's benefit contribution from the day after death.
If the client was receiving a Residential Care Loan, Legal services must be informed and are responsible for seeking repayment from the estate.
For more information about when to cancel the main benefit see:
- Death of a client, changes and reviews New Zealand Superannuation
- New Zealand Superannuation Terminal Benefit rate
For information about loan repayment see:
Client with a partner
When the client had a partner, the rate of the partner's main benefit can be reassessed to the single rate from the day after the death of the client.
The only exception to this is if the new rate is less than the existing rate being paid to the surviving partner, such as when they are receiving Emergency Benefit paid at the single Supported Living Payment rate. This can continue to be paid for 28 days after death.
The partner is to be advised that any Extra help they received has been stopped and provided with details of their future payments. If the partner is receiving the single living alone rate this may continue unless the client has had a change in circumstances that means they are no longer living alone.
For more information see:
