Support for you after someone dies

Adjusting to life after you have lost someone close is never easy. There is a lot of help available to assist you to make the necessary adjustments.

On this page

• Grieving
• Loneliness
• Health
• Housing
• Financial matters

Grieving

Grieving is a natural part of losing someone close to you, so adjusting to your new circumstances may take time. Centrelink
social workers can refer you to grief counselling. Counsellors can also be contacted through organisations like:

• community health centres
• Lifeline
• Solace Association
• the National Association for Loss and Grief.

Ministers of religion can also help you cope with grief.

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Loneliness

It may seem difficult at first to fit into social groups and activities. You may or may not want people around you.

With time, however, the company of others may help you develop new interests. The Community Information and Referral Service, your local community health centre or a Centrelink social worker can put you in touch with community organisations, like Rotary, Apex and Senior Citizens. These organisations value your help as a volunteer and you can join in with their activities and outings.

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Health

Taking care with your diet and exercise can help you re-establish a routine. Visits by a community nurse can be arranged if necessary. Many community groups or local councils can arrange services to help care for your house or garden. Not all of these services are free, however, and some may be provided only after your needs have been assessed.

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Housing

You might want to stay in your family home. However, if this is difficult, think about all the options carefully before you decide on a change. Moving too quickly may not be the best solution for you in the longer term. It is a good idea to talk over the alternatives first.

You can talk to a Centrelink Financial Information Service Officer who will give you information about how your decisions might affect any payments you receive. For more information about the Financial Information Service phone 13 2300.

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Financial matters

If you would like some help to work out a budget or manage your financial affairs, you can speak to a financial counsellor. To get in touch with a financial counsellor, you can contact:

• Community information and referral service
• Rural financial counselling services
• Welfare rights centre.

If you are in financial trouble, financial counsellors can give you advice and help to stop the situation becoming more difficult. They can also talk to creditors on your behalf.

Your bank manager, or the bank manager of the person who died, can also advise you if you have worries about financial matters.

For more information phone the Public Trustee - look for the phone number in the White Pages.

Outstanding debts

Relatives and friends do not have to pay the debts of the person who has died unless the debts are in joint names. Debts can be paid from the estate.

More information

• What to do first

Changes to your financial circumstances

Following the death of a loved one, you may need to understand more about investments you own. When a member of a couple dies the survivor usually inherits assets previously held in joint names. You may also be entitled to a superannuation payment. You need to contact the relevant superannuation organisation and find out what payments, if any, you could be entitled to.

Centrelink should be advised of any changes to your income and/or assets as it may have an effect on any payment to which you may be entitled. You should also carefully consider the implications of passing on assets to children, or other family members and friends, and bypassing yourself as this can affect your asset position and may result in changed payment rates.

More information

• Financial Information Service publications
• Investing for your retirement booklet
• Retirement income streams

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