Funerals

Contributed by Maree van der Kwast and current to 1 September 2005

There are various funeral schemes available to people in Western Australia.

Under some schemes a fixed cash benefit may be payable towards the cost of the funeral. Some schemes are part of the benefits of membership of particular organisations, for example a trade union, Friendly Society, lodge or association. In other cases regular contributions may have to be made towards the fund in order to qualify for the benefit. Government assistance can also be provided for people on a low income (see further below).

PAYMENT FOR A FUNERAL CONTRACT

The instruction to a funeral director to take charge of a funeral is a personal contract. The instructor therefore may be personally liable for the costs of the funeral. Usually there is provision in a will that covers the payment of funeral expenses, or even if not stated in a will, those expenses may be met out of the estate prior to the distribution of any of the assets. If, however, the estate does not have sufficient assets to cover the debt the person who instructed the funeral director will be liable.

Repatriation allowance

The Repatriation Commission provides a benefit of up to $1,000 towards the funeral expenses of an ex-serviceman who dies of war-related causes, dies in very poor circumstances, dies in an institution, while proceeding to or from an institution or after being discharged while terminally ill from an institution.

A grant may also be made towards the funeral expenses of an ex-serviceman’s widow, child under 16 or full-time student under 25, where the dependent died in severe financial need.

An application for funeral benefit must be made on the funeral benefit form within 12 months of the veteran’s death. Funeral benefit forms and relevant fact sheets are available from the Department of Veterans' Affairs Perth office (see end of chapter for contact details) or the DVA website at www.dva.gov.au.

Other benefits

Other possible sources of funeral benefits may be life insurance, health funds, workers’ compensation, social clubs, funeral funds or superannuation schemes.

State assistance

The WA Department of Family & Children’s Services may be able to meet the cost of the funeral of a person who is “destitute” in certain circumstances. For further information contact the Family Crisis Unit of the Department. Initial enquiries should be directed to the Funerals Clerk, Family and Children’s Services Joondalup – telephone (08) 9300 9000.

TRANSPORTING THE BODY INTERSTATE

If one wishes to bring a body into WA from interstate, the law of the place where the death occurred must be complied with when taking the body from that place. As long as all the legal requirements have been complied with, a body may be transported interstate from WA. This is expensive as the body is normally transported by air.

COMPLAINTS

Complaints against funeral directors for unsatisfactory service can be made to the WA Ministry of Fair Trading. Where the funeral director is a member of the Australian Funeral Directors’ Association, then complaints may be made to that organization which operates under a self-regulating Code of Ethics. Complaints are dealt with initially at the local level and if not resolved, may be referred to the AFDA’s national office to appoint an independent external arbitrator. Complaints should be made in writing to the address provided at the end of this chapter.