Deciding if surviving person would be better off getting terminal benefit or a new benefit

Terminal benefit is paid for 28 days when a client dies and has a surviving partner or child.

When the benefit is being paid to a couple, both the deceased person and the surviving person’s portion of the benefit is paid. Payment is the total benefit including any ongoing Extra help. It does not include family tax credit and Best Start tax credit.

Sometimes the surviving person or the caregiver of the children would get more money (based on their new circumstances) on a new benefit or their existing benefit at a higher rate, instead of their portion of their current assistance for 28 days.

Compare the surviving person’s potential new benefit and any ongoing Extra help (from the date after death) against the surviving person’s portion of benefit and ongoing Extra help they were getting before their partner’s death.

Generally, the surviving person will get more money if they change to a single rate of benefit.

If the deceased person qualified for terminal benefit, their portion will continue to be paid to their bank account.

For more information see: