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Funeral Costs


Procedures

Determining Eligibility for Funeral Costs: February 28, 2012

Disposition of Human and Cremated Remains: September 1, 2010

Paying Funeral Costs: September 1, 2010

Cost Recovery: February 28, 2012

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Determining Eligibility for Funeral Costs: February 28, 2012
February 28, 2012

To determine eligibility for ministry assistance with funeral costs for a deceased person, complete the following steps:

  1. Contact the deceased person’s legal representative and review the funeral arrangements that are being requested. [For further details on legal representatives, see Policy-Legal Representative].
  2. Review the financial situation of the deceased person with the legal representative and advise the legal representative that if there is eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit, the ministry will recover the Funeral Costs supplement directly from the CPP Death Benefit program.
  3. Confirm what resources are or may be available for funeral costs, including the deceased person’s assets, resources available from any of the responsible persons, contributions from family members, and possible alternate sources of payment for funeral costs.
  4. Contact Service Canada regarding eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit. Staff are to review the request for funeral services with the legal representative if Service Canada advises there is eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit. Staff are also to confirm with the legal representative whether there are resources to pay out of the estate or from any other sources for the funeral costs prior to applying for reimbursement from Service Canada. If there is eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit and the legal representative verifies there are no immediate funds to pay for the funeral services, staff are to proceed with the application. If there is no eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit and the legal representative confirms there are no available resources, proceed with application [See Procedures – Cost Recovery].
  5. Determine allowable funeral costs as set out in Schedule F – Burial and Cremation Costs of the Employment and Assistance Regulation, non-ministry financial resources that are immediately available to pay for the costs, and the balance (if any) to be paid by the ministry [see Policy - Eligibility Criteria].
  6. Provide the legal representative and service provider with information on how upgrades and co-funding may impact the amount of the funeral supplement [See Policy – Additional Items].
  7. Advise the legal representative and the service provider of the eligibility decision regarding funeral costs and the funeral arrangements.
  8. For costs approved by the ministry, advise the service provider to submit a Funeral Services Billing (SD2817) [see Forms and Letters], an original or certified true copy of the invoice/contract and, if available, an original or certified true copy of the Death Certificate [see Resources for Staff] if available. In a cost recovery situation, staff may apply for a death certificate if an original or certified true copy is not available [See Procedures- Death Certificate].
  9. If the deceased person was a recipient, record the following information:
  • Name, contact information and relationship of the legal representative
  • Verification of available income, assets and available resources
  • Available supporting documentation, such as a will
  • Funeral arrangement requested
  • Eligibility decision

Payment after the fact should be very rare and will only be considered if the funeral costs have not yet been paid and the responsible persons can prove there are no resources available to them (for example, the money was borrowed or the responsible persons must repay a 3rd party and there are no available resources with which to do so).

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Disposition of Human and Cremated Remains: September 1, 2010
September 1, 2010

If the ministry has control of disposition as outlined in the Cremation, Interment and Funeral Services Act (CIFSA), follow these steps:

  1. Verify if there is written preference or direction provided on the deceased person’s remains and fulfill the preference. If no preference or direction is indicated, staff should consider services in accordance with religious or cultural beliefs and traditions of the deceased person. If uncertain, staff may consult with their supervisor or PPIM for guidance.

  2. Choose immediate disposition and cremation if no preference, direction, religious or cultural belief is indicated.

  3. Choose a local cemetery or crematorium for the cremated remains at the lowest reasonable cost.

  4. Inter the cremated remains in a manner which allows for recovery of the remains in the future.

[For more information see Policy – Disposition of Human and Cremated Remains.]

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Paying Funeral Costs: September 1, 2010
September 1, 2010

To process payment for funeral costs, follow these steps:

  1. Review and complete the Funeral Services Billing (SD2817) form [see Forms and Letters] for accuracy and authorize payment by completing the coding block including Section B: check for funeral director’s signature. [Funeral provider’s basic service fees are shown in Rate Table: General Supplements - Funeral Costs - Funeral Provider’s Basic Service Fee.]

  2. Scan and profile the SD2817.  Where there is no file, place a copy in the office burials (ARCS) file.

  3. Forward the SD2817 and the original or certified true copy of the invoice/contract to Financial and Administrative Services Branch (FASB)
    [see Contacts].

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Cost Recovery: February 28, 2012
February 28, 2012

If the deceased person had a will, the executor is responsible for paying for the funeral costs from the deceased person’s estate, and the ministry is rarely involved.  Prior to making an eligibility decision in cases where a will exists, ministry staff must obtain a copy of the will, and most recent bank statements and a profile of the deceased person’s financial situation from the financial institution in order to verify the need for ministry assistance with funeral costs.

For deceased persons without a will, the legal representative [see Policy – Legal Representative] has the primary responsibility for accessing sources of funds for paying funeral costs.  Ministry staff are responsible for following up with the legal representative to initiate recovery of funeral costs paid by the ministry from funds that may be received for the deceased person’s estate following the funeral.

CPP 

If the deceased person may be eligible for the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit, a claim should be completed by staff with the family's permission as soon as possible, (where appropriate) and directed to the nearest CPP office [see Contacts] using Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) Application for a Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit (ISP1200) [see Resources for Staff]. If there are no other recoveries [see Policy – Cost Recovery], the claim should be sent with the CPP Death Benefit Claim Letter – No Other Contributions (SD3481).  If it is a reduced claim (recoveries from other assets have been received or costs are lower than eligibility amount), then the claim should be sent with the CPP Death Benefit Claim Letter – Other Contributions (SD3482) [see Forms and Letters]. For general information on eligibility for the CPP Death Benefit, contact HRSDC. [see Contacts]

Death Certificate 

A death certificate or a certified copy of a death certificate is required for claiming the CPP Death Benefit and for assisting the legal representative with accessing the financial assets of the deceased.  A death certificate should be obtained if it is needed to access financial assets or if the deceased is eligible for the CPP Death Benefit.  

To apply for a death certificate, a designated staff member uses the online Electronic Vital Statics Services (EVSS) application process.  In situations where the online application is not available, ministry staff may provide a paper copy of the Application for Death Certificate. 

Payment should not be sent with the form.  These payments are processed through FASB.  FASB does not require a copy of the death certificate.

Electronic method
To process an online death certificate application, ministry staff with online access follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to the EVSS and complete the online application form.
  2. Print off completed form.
  3. Submit the electronic application form.
  4. Note the order confirmation number on the printed form.
  5. Scan and profile a copy of the electronic form on the client’s file.

Paper method
Clients applying for a death certificate complete the Application for Death Certificate, [see Resources for Staff – Application for Death Certificate] and provide it to ministry staff for processing.  This form is unique to the ministry and cannot be downloaded from the internet.  The correct death certificate paper application form has “Client # SD 99999” printed in the top right corner and has a space for the ministry office address stamp.

A supply of the application for death certificate forms may be kept in each ministry office.  These forms may be photocopied, obtained from another ministry office or requested directly from the Vital Statics Agency in your area.

To process an application for a death certificate, ministry staff follow these steps:

  1. Sign the Application form in the bottom margin
  2. Scan and profile a copy of the form.
  3. Send the form to Vital Statistics Agency at:
    Vital Statistics Agency
    PO Box 9657 Stn Prov Govt
    Victoria BC V8W 9P3

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