Death of a client with a partner or child

Supported Living Payment can continue to be paid for 28 days after the death of a client when there is a surviving partner or child, and the surviving partner is not entitled to a survivor's grant from ACC.

Supported Living Payment can also continue to be paid for 28 days after the death of a single client who is a:

• liable person and paying Child Support payments or
• caregiver getting Unsupported Child's Benefit or Orphan's Benefit

Continuing payments after the date of death is known as a terminal benefit.

When terminal benefit is being paid to a couple, both the deceased person and the surviving person's portion of the benefit continues to be paid.

The total benefit, including the surviving person's portion, plus any ongoing extra help continues for 28 days.

Sometimes the surviving partner or the caregiver of the child would get more money (based on their new circumstances) on:

• a new main benefit or
• their existing benefit at a higher rate

instead of getting their portion of their current assistance for 28 days.

If the surviving person's benefit is reviewed and they qualify for a new benefit at a higher rate, they may be granted the new benefit instead of terminal benefit from the day after a client's death.

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

If the surviving person's current benefit is reviewed and they qualify for a higher rate, their benefit rate increases from the day after their partner's death. MSD pays this instead of their portion of the terminal benefit as they will get more money.

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

When the death of the person was the result of an accident, entitlement to a survivor's grant from ACC needs to be decided before terminal benefit can be paid.

If the surviving person or child is entitled to a survivor's grant from ACC there is no entitlement to terminal benefit.

If Supported Living Payment payments have continued after the date of death, an overpayment is established and the debt should be recovered from the estate.