How do I notify Centrelink of a death in Australia?

Call Centrelink on 132 300 as soon as possible. Have the deceased's Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) and your own ID handy. You do not need a death certificate to make the initial call — Centrelink will ask you to provide one later.

What is the Centrelink Bereavement Payment?

The Centrelink Bereavement Payment is a lump sum available to eligible surviving partners of people who were receiving a Centrelink payment (such as Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, or Carer Payment). The amount is equivalent to 14 weeks of the deceased's payment rate. It must be claimed within 14 weeks of the death.

Do I need to notify the ATO when someone dies?

Yes. The ATO must be notified when someone dies. The executor or next of kin should call the ATO on 13 28 61 to register the death. A final individual tax return (covering 1 July to the date of death) must also be lodged. If the estate earns income after death, a separate trust tax return may be required.

What happens to an Age Pension when someone dies?

Age Pension payments stop from the date of death. The surviving partner's own pension rate will be reassessed — it will generally decrease because coupled rates are lower per person than single rates. Centrelink should be notified promptly to avoid overpayments.

Notifying Centrelink & Government After a Death in Australia

This is one area where timing matters. Centrelink must be notified within 14 days to avoid overpayments you'll be required to repay. And the bereavement payment — which can be worth several thousand dollars — has a 14-week claim window.

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Notify Centrelink promptly

If Centrelink continues to pay the deceased after their death, you will be required to repay any overpayments. Notify them as soon as you can — you do not need the death certificate to make the initial call.

Step 1 — Notify Centrelink

1

Call Centrelink on 132 300

This is the bereavement line. Tell them the deceased's full name, date of birth, and date of death. Have the deceased's Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) ready if you can find it — on any Centrelink letter or their myGov account.
2

Inform them which payments the deceased was receiving

Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, JobSeeker — all payments will be stopped from the date of death. You will not be held responsible for a final partial payment that may have already been processed.
3

Ask about the Bereavement Payment

If you were in a relationship with the deceased and either of you received a Centrelink payment, you may be entitled to a lump sum. Ask the Centrelink officer directly — "Am I eligible for the Bereavement Payment?" They will assess your eligibility on the call.
4

Request reassessment of your own payments

If you were receiving a coupled rate (e.g. couples Age Pension), your rate will change to a single rate. This is handled automatically in most cases, but confirm with the Centrelink officer.
5

Send the death certificate when you have it

Centrelink will ask you to provide a certified copy of the death certificate. You can upload it via myGov, take it to a service centre, or mail it. This is not needed for the initial notification call.

Centrelink Bereavement Payment — what you need to know

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What is it?

The Bereavement Payment is a lump sum equivalent to 14 weeks of the deceased's Centrelink payment rate. It is paid to surviving partners of people who were receiving an income support payment at the time of death.

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Who is eligible?

Surviving partners where the deceased received Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, or JobSeeker. The surviving partner does not need to be receiving a payment themselves. Widowed members of the public who were supporting the deceased may also be eligible.

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14-week deadline

The Bereavement Payment must be claimed within 14 weeks of the date of death. After this window, you cannot make a retrospective claim. Do not delay.

Step 2 — Cancel Medicare

1

Call Services Australia on 132 011 or visit a service centre

Advise them of the death and that you need to cancel the deceased's Medicare card. They will remove them from the Medicare card — if it is a family card, the card continues but the deceased's name is removed.
2

Return or destroy the Medicare card

Once removed from the system, the card no longer functions. You can cut it up or hand it in at a service centre.

Step 3 — Notify the ATO

1

Call the ATO on 13 28 61

Ask to notify them of the death and request the deceased's tax file be marked as deceased. Have the deceased's Tax File Number (TFN) ready if you can find it — on any tax return, ATO correspondence, or group certificate.
2

Lodge a final individual tax return

A final tax return must be lodged for the period from 1 July to the date of death. If the deceased used a tax agent, contact them — they can often handle this. If not, engage a registered tax agent or contact the ATO for assistance.
3

Determine if an estate tax return is needed

If the estate earns income after death (rent, dividends, interest), a separate trust or estate income tax return may be required. Speak to a tax agent or the ATO.

Other government notifications

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Australian Electoral Commission — aec.gov.au → "Notify AEC of a death" to remove from the electoral roll. Takes less than 5 minutes online.

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Department of Home Affairs (passport) — Call 131 232 or complete a form at your nearest Australia Post to cancel the deceased's passport.

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State transport authority (driver's licence) — Notify your state's roads authority: Transport for NSW, VicRoads, DTMR (QLD), DoT (WA), etc. Bring the death certificate.

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Department of Veterans' Affairs — If the deceased was a veteran or war widow/widower receiving DVA benefits, call DVA on 1800 838 372. The surviving partner may be entitled to benefits.

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My Health Record — The Australian Digital Health Agency will cancel the deceased's My Health Record on notification. Call 1800 723 471.

Afterward

Let us handle the Centrelink and government notifications for you

Afterward can prepare all the notifications, track deadlines, and guide you through the Bereavement Payment claim. Log in to get started — our navigators know exactly what to say and what to ask for.

Frequently asked questions

Centrelink and government — common questions

Call Centrelink on 132 300 (the bereavement line) as soon as possible. Have the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, and Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) if available. You do not need the death certificate to make the initial call.

The Bereavement Payment is a lump sum equivalent to 14 weeks of the deceased's Centrelink payment rate. It is available to surviving partners of people receiving Age Pension, DSP, Carer Payment, or JobSeeker. Ask the Centrelink officer during your notification call — they can assess eligibility on the spot. It must be claimed within 14 weeks of the death.

Yes. Call the ATO on 13 28 61 to register the death. A final individual tax return must be lodged for the period 1 July to the date of death. If the estate earns income, a separate estate tax return may also be required.

Payments stop from the date of death. If you were the surviving partner receiving a coupled pension rate, your rate will be reassessed to the higher single rate — which is something to look forward to financially. Centrelink handles this automatically but confirm it on the call.

Yes — the executor or administrator of the estate is responsible for lodging a final individual income tax return on behalf of the deceased. The return covers the period from 1 July of the relevant tax year through to the date of death. A tax agent can assist with this; the ATO also provides guidance at ato.gov.au.