When a family member dies
The TAC is here to help you at this difficult time.
We can provide financial support to help cover funeral costs, counselling services, and support for dependents. The amount of support available will depend on your family's circumstances.
Accessing TAC support
To access support from the TAC, you will need to complete a Funeral and Dependency Benefits Claim Form.
This form collects important details about your loved one and the accident. We use this information to understand your situation and determine the ways we can support you.
Our Family Benefits team is available to help you complete the claim form and answer any questions you may have.
You can contact the TAC Family Benefits team on 03 5225 6200 or email familybenefits@tac.vic.gov.au.
TAC support and benefits
The following information outlines the types of benefits that may be available to assist you at this difficult time. The benefits will depend on your family's circumstances.
Note: The dollar amounts listed on this page are for deaths that occurred on or after 1 July 2026. For the dollar amounts applicable prior to this date, please email familybenefits@tac.vic.gov.au.
Funeral and monument expenses support
We can pay the reasonable costs for a funeral and monument in Australia, up to $19,940 (including GST).
Travel and accommodation expenses for funeral services
We can reimburse up to $6,650 (including GST) for reasonable travel and accommodation expenses within Australia for immediate family members attending the funeral, burial, or cremation. To be eligible, the service needs to be held in Australia and the immediate family member must live more than 100kms from where the service is held.
To make a claim, please complete the Travel and accommodation expenses form.
To learn more about this benefit, please speak to our Family Benefits team.
Counselling for family members
We can pay for counselling for family members up to $21,170 (including GST) when provided by a doctor, registered psychologist, or qualified social worker.
Family members include a spouse, dependent partner, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister of the person who has died.
If the loss has resulted in mental injury to you or a family member, you may also be eligible to make a separate TAC claim. Please contact our Customer Service Centre on 1300 654 329 to discuss this option, or you can lodge a claim online.
Dependent surviving spouse or partner support
If your spouse or domestic partner was contributing to your family’s income or caring for children, we can provide financial support.
A ‘spouse’ is defined as the person to whom a person is married. A ‘domestic partner’ is defined as a person to whom the person is not married but with whom the person is living as a couple on a genuine domestic basis (irrespective of gender).
Lump sum payment
We can pay a once‑off lump sum benefit of up to $237,240.
This amount depends on the age and family circumstances of the person who died, as well as any previous impairment payments.
Ongoing regular payments
If your spouse or domestic partner was employed and providing you financial support, we can pay an ongoing, regular payment equal to 80% of their earnings, up to a maximum of $1,730 gross per week.
You are eligible for this benefit even if you were working at the time of the accident.
Childcare and household support
If your spouse or domestic partner was caring for children or responsible for housework, we can contribute to the cost of employing a person to help with childcare and household tasks.
There are limits to how much we can pay, how many hours per week and for how long. If your spouse or domestic partner was also in paid employment, please speak with our Family Benefits team to find out which benefits apply.
Dependent surviving children support
A dependent child is defined as being under 18 years, or aged 18 to 25 years if they are a full‑time student or apprentice. It does not include a child who has a spouse or partner.
Where a child has both parents die in the same transport accident, the child will receive a separate payment for each parent.
Education allowance
We can pay $3,780 per year to the person responsible for each dependent child from the age of 5 to 18 years. This is paid as an annual payment.
The benefits listed below apply where the dependent child
- surviving parent is not a dependent spouse or domestic partner of the person who has died
- Surviving parent does not provide economic support for the child; or
- Does not have another parent.
Lump sum payment
We can pay a once‑off lump sum payment to the dependent children of up to $237,240.
This amount will depend on the person who died and their family circumstances. The State Trustees will hold this money until the child is 18.
If there is more than one dependent child, this lump sum will be divided equally between the dependent children.
Fortnightly payment
We can pay to the person responsible for the child $488 (gross) a week for each dependent child up to 18 years of age. This is paid as a fortnightly payment.
Your responsibilities
The TAC is committed to being a child safe organisation, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children and young people across TAC services and programs.
If a child is under 18 years of age and eligible for dependency payments, the benefits will be paid to the person who has day‑to‑day care of the child. This person is known as the ‘responsible person’.
If the ‘responsible person’ stops having day‑to‑day care of the child, they must notify the TAC. If another person starts to have day‑to‑day care of the child, they must also notify the TAC.
