Burial or Cremation Expenses (applies to accidents before 20 November 2013)

Policy

The TAC will contribute the reasonable costs incurred in Australia for a burial or cremation, when a person dies as a result of a transport accident and has an accepted TAC claim. Refer to the Eligibility for Benefits policy.

Transport Accident Act 1986 reference: s.60(2A)(b)

For accidents on or after 20 November 2013, please refer to the Funeral Expenses policy. 

Background

The cost of a burial or cremation varies according to the selection of individual components. The TAC will contribute the reasonable cost for a burial or cremation taking into account the circumstances of each case.

Guidelines

What amount will the TAC contribute towards the cost of a burial or cremation?

The TAC will contribute up to the amount which the TAC has considered as the reasonable cost for a burial or cremation as at the date of service. The TAC considers the following items would be included as part of the burial or cremation process:

• Cemetery fee or cremation fee
• Coffin/casket
• Urn 
• Identifying plaques or inscriptions 
• Service charge
• Clergy offering
• Press notices
• Flowers
• Death certificate

What is considered when deciding the TAC's contribution to a burial or cremation?

The TAC will consider the reasonableness of both the total cost and the cost of each item when determining its contribution. The TAC pays the reasonable cost of an item and may consider paying an additional amount after taking into account the necessity of the item and whether lessor amounts have been spent on some other components, provided the total cost of the burial or cremation is below the amount the TAC considers to be the reasonable cost. The TAC reasonable cost reflects the amounts that the Australian Funeral Directors Association believes are the realistic costs for a burial or cremation held in metropolitan Melbourne.

Are memorials covered?

Although the TAC will not pay for a memorial such as a crypt, headstone, monument or rose bush, it will pay the reasonable cost of identifying the deceased at the burial site or placement of ashes. This may take the form of an identifying inscription or the provision of a simple identifying plaque.

Are interstate or regional transfer fees covered?

Where the deceased is from outside his/her normal residency or from interstate, the TAC can consider paying an additional transfer fee.

What services can the TAC pay for permanent overseas residents?

Where an overseas resident dies as a result of a transport accident whilst visiting Australia, the TAC can contribute to the reasonable costs, incurred in Australia, for an Australian funeral director service fee, mortuary, coffin, metal liner, consulate fees and the reasonable cost of airfreight/transfer fee to his/her country of residency.

Can the TAC fund burial or cremation costs that take place overseas?

The TAC will only contribute to the costs for the deceased to be buried or cremated in Australia, this includes both permanent Australian residents and overseas visitors.

What other services can the TAC fund?

For eligible family member(s) of a person who dies as a result of a transport accident, the TAC can fund:

• family counselling
• dependency benefits, and/or
• home services.

Refer to the Family counselling, Dependency benefits (Surviving Partner Benefits or Surviving Dependant Child Benefits) , and Home services policies.

In relation to burial or cremation expenses what will the TAC not fund?

The TAC will not fund the following:

• catering
• wake
• multiple vehicles
• memorial such as a crypt, headstone, monument, rose bush or positioning
• mausoleums
• interment, placement or scattering of ashes
• thank you notes or similar
• dvd or audio visual presentations
• burial or cremation fees outside the Commonwealth of Australia
• services provided more than 2 years prior to the request for funding except where the request for payment is made within 3 years of the transport accident. Refer to the Time Limit to Apply for the Payment of Medical and Like Expenses policy.