How to Pay for a Funeral When There's No Money Saved
Practical ways to pay for a funeral in Australia when money is tight: using the person's bank account, government payments, veterans' funeral benefits, state funeral assistance schemes, and lower-cost options.
By Andrew M, reviewed by Anne G · Last updated 8 October 2026 · Editorial standards
Key points
- Banks may release money from the person's account to pay the funeral director, sometimes before probate.
- Check for life insurance, funeral insurance, a pre-paid funeral or super before assuming there's nothing.
- Services Australia may pay a lump sum to a partner or carer, and DVA has a funeral benefit for veterans.
- Most states have help with a basic funeral when there's no money; contact the scheme before signing a funeral contract.
- A direct cremation with your own memorial later costs much less than a full funeral.
Paying for a funeral when there's no money set aside is one of the most stressful parts of losing someone. The good news is that there's usually more help available than families realise, from the person's own bank account to government payments and state schemes. This guide sets out the options in the order most families try them.
Step 1: Check the Person's Bank Account
Can you use the dead person's bank account to pay for the funeral? Often, yes. Banks may release money from the person's account to pay for the funeral, sometimes before probate. They may ask for the death certificate, the will or the funeral director's invoice first.
Moneysmart and the ATO both say financial institutions may release funds from the account of a person who has died to pay their funeral expenses. Legal Aid NSW notes the bank may ask for the death certificate, the will or the funeral director's invoice first. Call the bank, explain the situation and ask what they need.
Step 2: Look for Insurance, Super or a Funeral Plan
Before assuming there's nothing, look through the person's paperwork and emails for:
- funeral insurance or life insurance, including cover that came with their super
- a pre-paid funeral or funeral bond, which may already cover some or all of the cost
- superannuation, which usually pays a death benefit, although it can take time.
Our guides to funeral insurance, pre-paid funerals and funeral bonds and to using superannuation for funeral costs explain how each one pays out, and how long it can take.
Step 3: Check for Government Payments
Is there a bereavement payment in Australia? Yes, in some cases. Services Australia may pay a lump sum to a partner if you were both on an income support payment or a pension, and to carers. There is no extra lump sum when a single person dies.
Services Australia explains that a partner's bereavement payment is worked out over a 14-week period starting on the day the partner died, to help with the move to a single income. Carers may get a lump sum of up to 14 weeks of Carer Allowance. Contact Services Australia to ask what applies to you.
Veterans. The Department of Veterans' Affairs pays a funeral benefit of up to $3,000 for some veterans. Claims must be made within 12 months of the death. Ask the Department of Veterans' Affairs whether a higher payment applies if the death was related to service.
Step 4: Ask the Funeral Director About Options
Be upfront with the funeral director about what you can afford, and ask:
- to see their least expensive package first
- about a direct cremation, with a memorial you organise yourself later
- whether they can wait for the bank or the estate to pay, or offer a payment plan.
Our guide to direct cremation explains how it works, and How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Australia? shows typical prices from official sources.
Step 5: State Funeral Assistance
Does the government pay for funerals in Australia? Not in general, but most states have some help when there's no money for a funeral and no family able to pay. These schemes usually provide a basic cremation or burial rather than a cash payment, and each has its own rules.
Important: some schemes may not help if a funeral contract has already been signed. If you think you might need one, contact it before you sign anything with a funeral director.
| State | Scheme | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | NSW Health, through the local health district | A basic cremation (or a burial in a shared grave if the family asks), when the person had no money to pay and family can't or won't |
| Queensland | Funeral Assistance Scheme, Coroners Court of Queensland | A basic funeral (cremation or burial), not a cash grant, when there's no relative able to pay |
| Western Australia | Bereavement Assistance Program, Department of Communities | A basic funeral, generally a burial, for families who meet an income and assets test; phone 1800 854 925 |
| South Australia | Funeral AssistanceSA | A basic or direct cremation for those who qualify; phone 1300 762 577 |
| Victoria | The state lists Bereavement Assistance, a not-for-profit | Low-cost funerals for Victorians in financial hardship |
In Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, ask the funeral director or the local health department what help is available.
In South Australia, Funeral AssistanceSA applies when the person's estate is under $4,000 and immediate relatives are on a pension or low income with less than $4,000 in accessible funds. If a private funeral is already owed, Funeral AssistanceSA may instead pay a grant of up to $625 to the funeral director.
In Queensland, the Coroners Court of Queensland explains that the scheme is for people with no relative able to pay, where "relative" means a spouse, or a parent of a child under 18. It may decline if a funeral contract has been signed, or if the person had super, life insurance or an estate that can pay.
What happens if no one can pay for a funeral? In most states, a government scheme steps in. In NSW, for example, the local health district arranges a basic burial or cremation for a person without the money to pay, when family can't or won't pay. Other states have similar schemes.
If the Death Was the Result of a Crime
Victims of crime schemes can help with funeral costs. The NSW Victims Support Scheme pays up to $9,500 towards the funeral of a homicide victim, and funeral directors can claim directly. In Queensland, Victim Assist Queensland can pay up to $15,000. Other states have their own schemes; ask the police or the court support service.
Other Ways Families Cover the Cost
- Sharing the cost between family members, agreed in writing.
- A memorial fund or online fundraiser, shared by family and friends.
- Keeping it simple: a direct cremation, a gathering at home, and no paid extras.
There's no shame in any of these. What matters most is that you get to say goodbye.
Next Steps
For the whole process, our step-by-step guide to planning a funeral in Australia shows where each decision fits. If money worries are adding to everything else, our page on grief support in Australia lists free services you can call at any hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use the dead person's bank account to pay for the funeral? Often, yes. Banks may release money from the person's account to pay for the funeral, sometimes before probate. They may ask for the death certificate, the will or the funeral director's invoice first.
Does the government pay for funerals in Australia? Not in general, but most states have some help when there's no money for a funeral and no family able to pay. These schemes usually provide a basic cremation or burial rather than a cash payment, and each has its own rules.
Is there a bereavement payment in Australia? Yes, in some cases. Services Australia may pay a lump sum to a partner if you were both on an income support payment or a pension, and to carers. There is no extra lump sum when a single person dies.
What happens if no one can pay for a funeral? In most states, a government scheme steps in. In NSW, for example, the local health district arranges a basic burial or cremation for a person without the money to pay, when family can't or won't pay. Other states have similar schemes.
This guide is general information for people in Australia, not legal or financial advice. Figures were checked against the sources below on the date shown, and we review this guide every six months. How we write and check our guides is set out in our editorial standards.
Sources
- Moneysmart (ASIC), Losing your partner (checked 8 October 2026)
- Legal Aid NSW, Paying for the funeral (checked 8 October 2026)
- Australian Taxation Office, Access to super on compassionate grounds: what you need to know (checked 8 October 2026)
- Services Australia, What help there is when an adult dies (checked 8 October 2026)
- Department of Veterans' Affairs, Help to pay for a funeral (checked 8 October 2026)
- NSW Health, Burial or cremation of deceased persons without financial means (PD2025_027) (checked 8 October 2026)
- Coroners Court of Queensland, Funeral assistance scheme (checked 8 October 2026)
- WA Department of Communities, Bereavement Assistance Program (checked 8 October 2026)
- Funeral AssistanceSA (SA Government), Funeral assistance program (checked 8 October 2026)
- Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Bereavement Assistance (checked 8 October 2026)
- NSW Victims Support Scheme (NSW Government), Funeral expenses (checked 8 October 2026)
- Victim Assist Queensland (Queensland Government), Request funeral expenses (checked 8 October 2026)
About the author
Andrew M covers the practical and technical side of memorial video planning for Mixtape Memories, including photo counts, file formats, venue requirements and the DIY-versus-professional decision. The focus is on getting the details right ahead of time, so families don't have to think about them on the day.
Reviewed by Anne G.