Funeral Costs for Pensioners in WA: Costs, Centrelink Help and Ways to Save

Written by Gift of Grace Funerals · Published 18 August 2026 · 9 min read

Funeral costs for pensioners can feel overwhelming, especially when you are living on the Age Pension and already grieving. The good news is that there is help available, and a dignified funeral does not have to cost a fortune. This guide explains what a funeral costs in Perth, what Centrelink and the WA Government can and can’t pay for, and practical ways pensioners and their families can keep costs manageable.

How much does a funeral cost in Perth?

Funeral costs in Perth vary with the type of farewell you choose. As a guide, these are our fixed, GST-inclusive package prices at the time of writing:

• Unattended cremation (no service): from $3,800 with our Essential Grace package
• Cremation with a service: $8,500 to $12,500, depending on the venue and the level of personalisation
• Burial with a service: $11,500 to $14,000

Burials usually cost more than cremations because of the cost of the grave and cemetery fees. Our guide to how much a funeral costs in Perth explains what makes up the price, and you can compare every option on our funeral packages page.

Does Centrelink pay for funerals?

Not directly. There is no Centrelink payment that covers the cost of a funeral when a single pensioner dies. What Services Australia does offer depends on who has died and your own circumstances.

If your partner has died: the bereavement payment

If you and your partner were both receiving a pension or income support payment for at least the previous 12 months, you may get a lump sum bereavement payment. It is designed to help you adjust to living on a single income. The amount is usually the difference between your combined couple rate and your new single rate, worked out over the 14 weeks starting from the day your partner died.

Many families put this payment towards the funeral. You must tell Services Australia about the death to start the process.

If a single pensioner has died

There are no extra lump sum payments when a single person dies. The regular pension payment that covers the fortnight of the death is still paid, and the executor of the estate can access it. Payments then stop.

If you were their carer

If you received Carer Allowance or Carer Payment for the person who died, you may be able to receive a lump sum or continue to receive your payment for up to 14 weeks, depending on your circumstances.

Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment

If your partner was registered for the Pension Bonus Scheme but died before claiming the Age Pension and their bonus, you may be able to claim a Pension Bonus Bereavement Payment. You can claim it up to 26 weeks after their death.

Rules and amounts can change, so check your situation with Services Australia or call your usual payment line.

WA Government help: the Bereavement Assistance Program

If someone dies and neither their estate nor their family can pay for a funeral, the WA Department of Communities runs the Bereavement Assistance Program. It is a safety net for families in real financial hardship.

• Who qualifies: the partner and adult children are assessed on their income and assets. Families with a full-time income are generally not eligible, and families who receive a Centrelink bereavement payment are usually asked to contribute around half the cost.
• What it covers: a basic funeral by a contracted funeral director, including the coffin, hearse, the funeral director’s services, a minister and pall bearers.
• Burial, not cremation: the program funds a burial unless the will asks for cremation or cremation is needed for cultural or religious reasons.
• A family contribution: approved families are still asked to contribute something towards the funeral.

You apply through your local Department of Communities office and attend an interview. Call 1800 854 925 or visit the WA Government website for details. Contact the program before you arrange a funeral privately, as the program uses its own contracted funeral directors.

Help for veterans’ families

If your loved one was a veteran, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) may help with funeral costs, depending on their service and the support they received. Contact DVA on 1800 838 372 before the funeral to check what applies.

Other ways a funeral can be paid for

For most pensioners, the funeral is paid from their own money after they die. Common sources include:

• The estate and bank accounts: many banks will release funds from the deceased person’s account to pay the funeral director’s invoice directly, even before the estate is settled. Ask the bank what they need, which is usually the invoice and proof of death.
• Superannuation: some retirees still hold super, which may include a death benefit or insurance.
• Funeral insurance or a funeral bond taken out earlier.
• A prepaid funeral, where the costs were paid in advance.
• Family contributions, shared between relatives.

When you first call a funeral director, mention how the funeral will be paid for. A good funeral director will explain payment timing clearly and won’t pressure you into extras.

7 ways to keep funeral costs down

A meaningful farewell is about the people and the memories, not the price tag. These choices can make a real difference to the cost:

1. Choose cremation over burial. It is usually the lower-cost option. Our guide to cremation vs burial in Perth compares the two.
2. Consider an unattended cremation with a memorial later. The cremation happens without a service, and family can gather afterwards at home, in a park, at church or at a favourite place. Learn more about cremations in Perth.
3. Hold the service on a weekday. Weekend services can cost more.
4. Keep the guest list and catering simple. Tea and biscuits at a family home or church hall can be just as warm as a catered wake.
5. Make it personal yourselves. Family can choose the music, prepare the photo slideshow, write the eulogy and gather flowers from the garden.
6. Ask for an itemised, written quote. Fixed-price packages make it easier to compare, and you can ask what is optional.
7. Only pay for what you need. You don’t have to buy the most expensive coffin, cars or printed booklets to honour someone well.

Planning ahead: prepaid funerals and the Age Pension

If you are a pensioner thinking about your own funeral, paying for it in advance can protect your family from the cost and may also help your pension. Under the Services Australia assets test:

• A fully prepaid funeral is not counted as an asset, as long as you have a contract that lists the services and says they are paid in full.
• Funeral bonds are exempt up to a set limit, which is reviewed each 1 July. From 1 July 2025 the limit was $15,750. Check Services Australia for the current figure.
• A burial plot is not counted as an asset, whatever its value.

Pre-planning also means your family knows your wishes. Read more about the benefits of pre-planning your funeral, or see our guide to planning a funeral in Perth.

A Dignified Farewell Within a Pension Budget

Centrelink won’t cover funeral costs for pensioners, but that doesn’t mean a family on the pension is out of options. A bereavement payment for a surviving partner, the WA Bereavement Assistance Program, the person’s own estate and a simple, well-chosen service can all make a funeral affordable.

The most important step is an honest conversation about budget at the very start. Ask for fixed, written pricing, only choose what feels meaningful, and remember that a heartfelt farewell is measured in memories, not dollars.

Frequently asked questions

Does Centrelink give you money for a funeral?

No. Centrelink does not have a payment that covers funeral costs. If your partner has died and you were both on a pension or income support payment for at least 12 months, you may get a bereavement payment, which many families use towards the funeral.

What happens if a pensioner dies with no money for a funeral in WA?

If the estate and family can’t pay, the family can apply to the WA Department of Communities’ Bereavement Assistance Program on 1800 854 925. It funds a basic funeral, usually a burial, through a contracted funeral director. Families are assessed on income and assets and are asked to contribute.

What is the most affordable funeral option in Perth?

An unattended cremation is usually the most affordable option. There is no service at the time of cremation, and family can hold a memorial later. Gift of Grace Funerals’ Essential Grace package starts from $3,800, GST included.

Can the deceased person’s bank account pay for the funeral?

Often, yes. Many banks will pay a funeral director’s invoice directly from the deceased person’s account, even before probate. Contact the bank with the invoice and proof of death to ask about their process.

Does a prepaid funeral affect the Age Pension?

A fully prepaid funeral with a paid-in-full contract is not counted under the assets test. Funeral bonds are exempt up to a limit that is reviewed each 1 July, and a burial plot is not counted at all.

Please note: This article is general information only and is not financial advice. Centrelink payments, assets test rules and funeral bond limits can change, so please check your own situation with Services Australia or a licensed financial adviser. Information current at the time of publishing.