6.1.3 Reviews - Death of a Recipient
Summary
This topic explains the death review. It covers the determination and assessment of the surviving partner's (1.1.P.85) circumstances.
Determining the surviving partner's circumstances
Action following the death of a recipient MUST NOT be delayed merely to clarify the details of a surviving recipient's current circumstances in order to finalise a death review. Payment MUST be cancelled immediately when a benefit recipient dies. A surviving partner's circumstances MUST be reviewed to determine:
- whether the couple's assets (1.1.A.290) and investments have been transferred to the partner or remain in the estate,
- details of the estate and expected date of finalisation,
- ownership of any real estate, including a home property,
- whether superannuation or compensation (1.1.C.240) payments are transferring to the partner and if so, the rate payable,
- the partner's eligibility in their own right, and
- eligibility to an autonomous pension (1.1.A.360) in cases where the survivor was being paid under an international agreement (1.1.A.120).
Policy reference: SS Guide 3.1.5 Bereavement payment provisions
Assessing the surviving partner's circumstances
If a surviving partner is the beneficiary of any income from the estate, it is NOT assessed until they become entitled to receive the income. Jointly owned income or assets automatically pass to the survivor on the death of their partner.
Act reference: SSAct section 8(1)-'income'