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At Eirene, we believe that everyone deserves a dignified and respectful funeral. If you are in need of financial assistance with your end-of-life process, you have options.
This page will give you information on how you can access specific financial coverage through provincial and federal governments.
Funerals in Canada can cost anywhere from $1,000 to over $20,000, depending on the services selected. Paying for these costs can be challenging for many families, even if they are choosing lower cost final arrangements. Funeral assistance programs can help cover these fees and relieve some of the financial burdens for loved ones. Learn about provincial and federal funeral financial assistance programs available to Ontarians below.
For funding programs for each province in Canada, see Canada's funeral funding programs.
Discussed here are provincial funeral assistance programs available to Ontarians. Federal programs are outlined later in the article. Click here.
Ontario Works is a financial assistance program that offers temporary financial and employment assistance to low-income earners and families in Ontario. It helps cover the cost of food, clothing, shelter, prescriptions, etc., while recipients prepare for and find sustainable income. Program support also extends to funeral expenses.
Ontario Works can provide up to $2,250 for funeral expenses to eligible applicants (this limit may be exceeded at the caseworker's discretion). These funds help cover the following costs:
If the deceased was already receiving support through Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), families can contact their funeral service provider to assist with applying for funeral support.
If the deceased was not a client of Ontario Works or ODSP, families can still apply for funeral assistance through the funeral provider, at an Ontario Works office, or online, as they may be eligible for support under the program's guidelines.
After applying, the application will be reviewed, and a caseworker will reach out to the family to help determine the deceased's financial situation. Ontario Works will contact the funeral home or the deceased's family to complete arrangements if approved.
Learn more about Ontario Works funeral funding in this article.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is the workplace compensation board for Ontario. It provides survivor benefits to spouses or dependents of someone who died due to a workplace injury or illness.
WSIB offers four types of survivor benefits:
Learn more about survivor benefits on the WSIB web page or in the For Families: A Resource Guide for Survivors (PDF).
Claims for survivor benefits can be made online. This will get the information to WSIB sooner. For assistance with submitting a claim, call 1-800-387-0750, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Pension plans are an employment benefit that provides income after retirement. While working, individuals make contributions that are set aside to help fund needs and necessities after retirement. Pension plans are offered through employers or the government.
Many pension plans provide survivor benefits to assist spouses or dependents if the plan holder dies. These benefits are often received as a lump sum or monthly payment and can be used to pay for final arrangements.
Below are examples of survivor benefits for Ontarians:
Body donation may be a final option for individuals who want to directly support the scientific community in death. Donating one's body helps current and future medical professionals train, improve skill sets, and expand their knowledge. It can also be a cost-effective funeral option.
Body donation in Ontario is made through a School of Anatomy in the province. Organ and tissue donation is made through the Trillium Gift of Life. Below are the School of Anatomy locations with body donation programs:
Body donation programs may differ slightly at each school. However, all donors must issue consent to be part of the program. Ways to consent include:
Acceptance of a body donation depends on the school's needs and other factors discussed here. Individuals can learn more about requirements by contacting the School of Anatomy in their area.
After completion of the program, remains are typically cremated and interred in the school's plot or returned to the family.
Airline bereavement fares are discounted fares offered to family members who need to fly last minute due to an immediate family member's death or imminent death.
To see further information about airline bereavement programs in Canada use the following links:
Below are the federal assistance programs available to all Canadians, including Ontarians.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides survivors with financial support after a family member has died.
Under the program, there are three types of CPP financial support payments available to families:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, the deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least 10 years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP, and no less than three calendar years.
You can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. Learn more about the application process in this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or the Government of Canada website.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit for Veterans to ensure they have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund, a non-profit organization.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If an individual meets these criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means-testing to determine financial need or as a "matter-of-right". Matter-of-right is a situation where the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service (i.e., a condition that the VAC provided a disability benefit).
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
To apply for the Last Post Fund benefit, apply online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. Once an application is submitted, a LPF counsellor will contact you.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on the reserve in Canada. It is a last resort when other means for covering basic needs have been exhausted. The funds support the basic needs and extends to funeral expenses.
Eligible expenditures can also include funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate (when applicable) the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate they:
The application process varies depending on location. You can learn more by contacting your community's band office.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment given to eligible Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
To apply for this benefit, you must complete the following steps outlined on the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor webpage.
A Memorial Grant Program for First Responders is a benefit offered to the families of first responders who have died as a result of their duties. This includes firefighters, police officers, paramedics, correctional, parole, or probation officers.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
More information about this benefit can be found here.
If you have lived or worked in Canada and in another country or are a survivor of someone who has, you may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada or from the other country because of the social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country that is designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process here.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. It is meant to help parents that miss work or lose income when coping with the loss by providing weekly income support.
Eligible parents will be provided with payments of $450 per week, paid every 2 weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of 2 years. Recipients can decide to stop receiving the benefit or restart at a later date any time within the 2-year period.
You can apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
If eligible, payment will begin immediately after submission. A Government of Canada representative will contact you if more information is required.
For help and answers to questions about a specific program, be sure to contact the program's administrators using the information provided above in each section.
Eirene can help you make final arrangements and will work with the applicable funding program once you have qualified.
For information about our service areas please visit our locations page. To make arrangements in the provinces where we provide services, click here.
See also: Canadian funeral funding and financial assistance programs. You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca.
Funerals can be expensive, ranging from $1,500 to more than $15,000. In Nova Scotia, the Funeral Service Association of Nova Scotia estimated the average cost of a funeral within the province is around $7,000, based on a 2019 poll of the association's membership. And that does not include expenses such as obituaries, flowers or headstones.
For some families, it can be challenging to come up with enough money to pay for funeral arrangements. Fortunately, many government financial assistance programs are available to help cover these costs. Below are federal and provincial funeral finance assistance programs available to Nova Scotia residents.
Income Assistance (IA) is a program offered through the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services to help those unable to support themselves or their family. Eligible applicants can receive special needs assistance which can help with funeral and burial costs.
The amount available to residents for burial costs is not listed on the Nova Scotia website, but according to a CBC report, residents can receive up to $3,800, plus taxes for funeral expenses and related services. The remaining costs are the responsibility of the individual or their family.
A person is eligible to apply for Income Assistance in Nova Scotia if:
A surviving spouse or parent of a deceased person or next of kin can apply to IA for assistance with funeral expenses of a loved one, where eligible.
Existing IA clients that need information can contact their caseworker or call 1-877-424-1177 to request special assistance.
To become an IA client, apply by calling the number above. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 7 pm, and Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. An applicant can visit a Community Services office and call the intake line from Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
If a worker dies from a workplace injury, the spouse and/or dependents are entitled to various benefits available from the Workplace Compensation Board Survivor Benefits. These include:
Learn more about these benefits by contacting a representative on the WBC Nova Scotia website.
A pension plan is a benefit that provides employees with a source of income after retirement. Contributions made by workers are set aside to fund post-work expenses. In many cases, pension plans include survivor benefits available to a worker's spouse and/or dependents after the worker dies. These funds can be used to help fund funeral arrangements.
Survivors receive the death benefit monthly or as a lump sum after death. The benefit can also help fund a portion of the funeral arrangements.
In Nova Scotia, the following provincial plans are available for eligible workers. You can find information in each outlining available survivor benefit options:
Body donation may also be an option for those that cannot afford traditional funeral services and want to give back to the scientific community and help with research and training for current and future medical professionals.
In Nova Scotia, the human body donation program is operated by Dalhousie University in Halifax but accepts body donations from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
Those interested in the program need to complete the Donation Form and Cremation form with their next of kin. Completed forms can be emailed to humandonationprogram@dal.ca or sent by post to the address on the form.
A completed form indicates the desire to donate. However, the acceptance decision is determined at the time of death. Backup funeral arrangements should also be made in case a body is not accepted.
If the body is accepted into the program, costs for cremation and interment of ashes in the Dalhousie Memorial Garden or shipping of ashes to next of kin are covered. Learn more about the body donation program on the Dalhousie University website.
An essential document required for post-death arrangements is a will. A last will and testament is a legal document outlining a deceased person's wishes on how their estate and assets will be distributed after death. It also outlines which person or people will oversee settlement and distribution.
The preparation of a will and testament in Canada costs around $400 but can fall under or above that range depending on complexity. Dying without a will can make post-death arrangements difficult. Fortunately, the Dalhousie Wills Project provides Wills, Power of Attorney, Personal Directives and related services free to low-income seniors.
To be eligible for the project, a Nova Scotia resident must be:
To learn more about this project or to apply, call the organization at 902-494-3704 or email at willsdal@gmail.com. The program says on its website that email is preferred.
Here are the federal programs that Nova Scotian residents are eligible for as Canadians.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a federally mandated service that provides survivors with financial support after a family member has died.
Under the program, there are three types of CPP financial support payments available to families:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least 10 years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. Learn more about the application process in this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or the Government of Canada website.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit that helps ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund, a non-profit organization serving veterans since 1909.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means testing to determine the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. A LPF counselor will respond to applications.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on reserve in Canada.
The funds support basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter; and special needs, including goods and services essential to physical and social well-being.
Eligible expenditures can also include funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate (when applicable) the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies depending on location. Learn more by contacting the local community's band office.
A Memorial Grant Program for First Responders is a benefit offered to the families of first responders who have died as a result of their duties. This includes firefighters, police officers, paramedics, correctional, parole, and probation officers anywhere in Canada and, as such, includes first responders in Nova Scotia.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Information about this benefit can be found on this website.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for eligible Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
The monthly amount is adjusted from time to time by the program, but as an example, allowance as of April-June 2022, the maximum monthly amount was $1,468.47. Check this website for thresholds and current amounts.
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the allowance for the Survivor web page.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. The death or disappearance of a child can be incredibly devastating and often causes parents to miss work or lose income when coping with the loss. The benefit provides parents going through this with weekly income support.
Eligible parents will are provided with payments of $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at a later date at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
If a worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or are a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the other country because of a social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
Here are a few more resources that can be helpful in finding funeral funding resources in Canada.
Funeral funding questions should be directed to each program listed above to determine eligibility. Once you have funding approved or in process, contact us to arrange a funeral. We will work with you and your funding program. See below.
Our experts at Eirene Cremations are available to answer your questions about cremation and related funeral arrangements. You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca or use our contact page. Also, see more information about cremation in Nova Scotia.
To make cremation arrangements, click here. For information about our service areas please visit our locations page.
Funerals and related final expenses can be expensive, and some families may need to seek assistance to cover the costs when a loved one dies. Fortunately, families can apply for financial assistance programs to help relieve some of the financial burden. Below we have outlined provincial and federal assistance programs available to Manitobans.
Note that this article is specific to Manitoba, however, you can see programs across Canada in our national funeral financial assistance article.
Outlined here are provincial funeral funding programs available to Manitobans. Federal programs are discussed later in the article.
The Employment and Income Assistance program aids Manitobans who are unable to support themselves or their families financially. The program provides benefits to help cover the cost of living, food, clothing, dental, health expenses, etc. Funeral assistance is also offered under the program.
Funeral assistance under EIA will cover funeral fees for a deceased person who was:
EIA staff must receive a request from someone acting on behalf of the deceased person (e.g., a relative), and the request will be assessed with that individual.
Services will be approved per an agreement with the Manitoba Funeral Services Association. Staff will consider all financial resources, including other death benefits (e.g., CPP), estate, assets, etc. If it is determined that financial resources cannot cover the funeral cost, EIA will pay the fees to the funeral home.
To apply for the program, applicants can call EIA or complete the EIA Intake Application Request form online. Staff will answer questions and guide people through the application process. Information on applying for funeral benefits can be found in the EIA Administrative Manual.
The Compensation for Victims of Crime program provides compensation to victims, families, and witnesses that have been injured physically or emotionally due to certain crimes (outlined in the Victims' Bill of Rights).
There are numerous benefits offered through the program, including funeral coverage. The benefit is available to immediate family members paying for the victim's funeral. It will cover funeral fees to a maximum of $5,400.
Applicants may be eligible for CVCP if:
Applicants are NOT eligible for compensation if:
To apply for CVCP, applicants must fill out the correct CVCP form and submit it following the instructions outlined in the form. To ask questions about the program or the application process, call 204-945-0899 in Winnipeg, toll-free in Manitoba at 1-800-262-9344 or email: cvcp@gov.mb.ca.
Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is a non-profit Crown company that offers public auto insurance, vehicle registration, and driver licensing to Manitobans. The Personal Injury Protection Plan provides benefits or compensation to people involved in a car accident. Families of people killed in an accident are eligible for coverage of funeral expenses.
The plan provides up to a maximum of $9,293 for funeral expenses and a maximum of $3,886 per person for grief counselling. Payments may also be given to immediate family members, such as spouses, partners, and dependents. The amounts are adjusted each year on April first based on the Consumer Price Index. An MPI case manager will help families throughout the claim process. Learn more about support for fatality claims in the Services and Support Guide.
For claims or inquiries, families can call or visit the person. Contact information can be found on the MPI Contact Us page.
The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) provides benefits to the family and dependents of fatally injured workers.
A spouse may be entitled to the following:
The spouse or the worker's estate may also be entitled to immediate payment of $14,110 to help with expenses.
Dependent children may receive a monthly payment of $500 under 18. This payment may continue for children over 18 if they continue their education.
Claims must be filed with WCB within a year after death. Learn more about the claim process and benefits for dependents in the Benefits for Dependents of Fatally Injured Workers PDF.
Pension plans provide families with retirement income. Individuals make contributions while working that are set aside for their retirement. Pension plans are typically offered through the government or employers.
Most pension plans have survivor benefits for dependents of the plan holder. These benefits are often received as a lump sum or monthly payment and can be used to cover funeral costs.
Below are examples of survivor benefits for Manitobans:
Body donation is an available final arrangement option for people that want to contribute to the scientific community in death. Donating one's body provides current and future medical professionals with an opportunity to gain better knowledge and understanding of human anatomy through hands-on experience. It can also minimize funeral expenses.
Manitobans can donate their bodies through the University of Manitoba's Body Donation Program.
Interested applicants must complete one original copy of the Body Donation Program Registration Form and return the completed form to:
Body Donation Program
Department of Human Anatomy & Cell Science
Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences University of Manitoba
130-745 Bannatyne Avenue
Winnipeg, MB
R3E 0J9
A copy of the forms should also be given to the individual legally entitled to claim the body after death.
The department will not decide on acceptance until the time of death. Next-of-kin should inform healthcare staff about the desire to donate when an applicant dies, as the body must not be autopsied or embalmed. The body must also be adequately refrigerated within eight hours of death.
The family must contact the Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science at 204-789-3652. Acceptance will be determined after completing a medical history checklist and discussing it with attending nurses, caregivers, or next of kin. If the body is accepted, the university will arrange transport. The body may be kept in the program for up to four years after death.
The body will be cremated, and the ashes will be placed in an urn when studies are completed. The next-of-kin has the option to inter the ashes in Brookside Cemetery in the Medical Section or have the ashes returned to them.
Learn more about the body donation program on the University of Manitoba website or in the body donation PDF.
Some Canadian airlines offer discounted fares for family members that need to fly last minute to the death of an immediate family member. Learn more about participating airline bereavement fares below:
Discussed below are the federal assistance programs available to all Canadians.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides financial support to survivors after the death of a family member.
There are three types of CPP financial support payments:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least ten years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. For more information about the application process, check out this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or visit the Government of Canada website.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on a reserve in Canada.
The funds support the basic needs and can cover funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies from province to province. Learn more by contacting the local community's band office.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program provides a benefit to ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means-testing to determine the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. An LPF counsellor will respond to applications.
Memorial Grant Program for First Responders provides a benefit to the families of first responders who have died due to their duties. First responders include firefighters, paramedics, police officers, correctional officers, probation officers, and parole officers anywhere in Canada.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Learn more about the Memorial Grant on the program website.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. It provides parents with weekly income support.
Eligible parents receive $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
The monthly amount is adjusted occasionally. Check this website for thresholds and current amounts.
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor web page.
If a worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or is a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the secondary country because of a social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
For help and answers to questions about a specific program, be sure to contact the program's administrators using the information provided above in each section.
Eirene can help you arrange a funeral and will work with the applicable funding program once you have qualified.
For information about our service areas please visit our locations page. To make arrangements in the provinces where we provide services, click here.
You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca.
Funeral arrangements can be expensive, so some Alberta families may find it challenging to afford desired services. However, provincial and federal assistance programs can help relieve some of the financial burdens by covering a portion of funeral costs. Learn more about funeral financial assistance programs available to Alberta residents below.
The following provincial funeral financial assistance programs are open to qualifying residents in Alberta.
Alberta's Income Support program offers support for residents and their families to help pay for specific one-time or ongoing expenses. This program provides various benefits, including a supplementary benefit for funeral expenses.
Funeral benefits are available to eligible members of an Income Support Household that fit the criteria outlined in the Supplementary Benefits policy. The criteria include:
If eligible, funeral benefits may be provided for expenses related to burial, cremation, and funeral of a deceased person within Alberta or costs associated with transporting the deceased person to another province for funeral arrangements.
Benefits rates for eligible applicants, if the deceased person is being buried or cremated in Alberta, are as follows:
If the remains are transported to another province or territory, the benefits will cover costs for preparing the body and reasonable transportation fees. Additional amounts may be provided in exceptional and necessary circumstances.
Residents can apply for funeral benefits by completing the appropriate application forms, collecting the required information, and submitting the form by email, fax, or mail. Learn more about the application process on the Alberta government website.
The Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides financial and health support to Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living. Funeral benefits may be available for a deceased person who was receiving AISH or the spouse/partner or dependent child of an AISH client at the time of death.
Eligible members must meet the criteria outlined in the Personal Benefits section of the AISH program policy. The criteria include:
The same funeral benefits and rates offered to Income Support households are available to AISH recipients.
AISH members can apply for funeral benefits by completing the appropriate application forms, collecting the required information, and submitting the form by email, fax, or mail. Learn more about the application process on the Alberta government website.
Funeral benefits may be available to deceased Alberta residents with low income who are not receiving benefits from the AISH or Income Support programs.
Applicants must meet the general and financial criteria to be eligible for funeral benefits through the program. General criteria are related to the deceased residency and status in Canada. Financial criteria are related to other financial sources, income resources, and assets of the individual or responsible survivor that can be used to cover funeral expenses. Learn more about eligibility on the general policy page.
The same funeral benefits and rates offered to Income Support households, and AISH recipients are available to low-income Albertans. Criteria may differ slightly for low-income Albertans in Special Groups.
Low-income Albertans can apply for funeral benefits by completing the appropriate application forms, collecting the required information, and submitting the form by email, fax, or mail. Learn more about the application process on the Alberta government website.
Alberta's Workers Compensation Board (WCB) offers several services and support for families coping with a work-related death. Supports available to families include:
These benefits are offered as an ongoing or one-time payment, and the amount available varies depending on the situation. A WCB case worker will guide families through the costs and benefits and ensure families have the support they need.
Learn more about WCB benefits in the fatality and survivor benefit worker fact sheet or by contacting a WCB representative via email: contactcentre@wcb.ab.ca or by phone at 1-866-922-9221 (within Alberta) and 1-800-661-9608 (outside Alberta).
The Alberta government supports those who have experienced physical or emotional harm because of a crime. The program offers serious injury benefits. This includes a death benefit that provides reimbursement of funeral costs for victims who died due to violent crime.
Individuals may be eligible for serious injury benefits if:
The incident must be reported to the police before applying, but individuals do not need to wait until a charge or conviction. Applicants must fill out the Death Benefit Application Form and submit it via email at: victimsofcrime@gov.ab.ca or by mail at the following address:
Victims of Crime Assistance Program
10th Floor, 10365 97 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3W7
The form can also be faxed to 780-422-4213.
For questions about eligibility or application assistance, email the Victims Assistance Program.
Body donation is another way to reduce funeral costs and give back to the scientific community. A donated body is used for research and training current and future medical professionals. In most cases, the body will be cremated after study completion, and the ashes will be returned to the family.
There are two body donation programs available to Albertans. Learn more about these programs at the links below:
Airline bereavement fares are discounted fares offered to family members who need to fly last minute due to an immediate family member's death or imminent death. Air Canada and WestJet both provide bereavement fares.
Family members must contact the airlines directly to apply for these fares and provide proof of bereavement/imminent death. Learn more about these programs at the links below:
Alberta residents can apply for the following federal programs below. These programs are available to all qualifying Canadians.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a federal service that provides survivors with financial support after the death of a family member. It is available to all Albertans as a federal program.
There are three types of CPP financial support payments available to families:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least 10 years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in-person at a Service Canada location. Learn more about the application process in this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or the Government of Canada website.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on reserve in Alberta or anywhere in Canada.
The funds support the basic needs and can also include funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate (when applicable) the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies. Learn more by contacting your local community's band office.
A Memorial Grant Program for First Responders is a benefit offered to the families of first responders who have died as a result of their duties. This includes firefighters, paramedics, police officers, correctional, probation, and parole officers anywhere in Canada, including Alberta.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Learn more about this benefit on the program's website.
This benefit is available to parents or guardians who have lost a child in crime-related circumstances. The benefit provides parents coping with the loss of a child with weekly income support.
Eligible parents are provided with payments of $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit that helps ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means testing to determine the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. A LPF counsellor will respond to applications.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for eligible Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
The monthly amount is adjusted from time to time by the program. Check this website for thresholds and current amounts.
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor web page.
If an Alberta worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or is a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the other country because of a social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
This page has been curated for Alberta families seeking funeral financial assistance. See our related pages for Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. Also, see our Canadian funeral programs guide.
Funeral funding questions should be directed to each program listed above to determine eligibility. Once you have funding approved or in process, contact us to arrange a funeral. We will work with you and your funding program. See below.
Eirene Cremations provides direct cremation services. For information about our service areas please visit our locations page.
To make cremation arrangements, click here.
Funerals are expensive, and families may find it challenging to afford services when a loved one dies. However, there are funeral assistance programs in New Brunswick that can help subsidize or pay in full for funeral arrangements. Some programs cover a portion of costs, while others may cover all final expenses. Learn about funeral financial assistance available to New Brunswickers below.
Listed here are funeral funding programs available provincially in New Brunswick. Federal programs are outlined later in this article.
The Social Development funeral benefit is a government-run program that provides financial assistance to help applicants cover funeral expenses for a deceased family member. The Social Development department will provide support per the agreement with the New Brunswick Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association.
Eligibility for the benefit depends on:
The province's Social Development department will look at the household income and living expenses to determine eligibility. This includes earnings, pensions, business revenue, allowances, investments, etc. Family members who are not part of the household will also be asked if they can contribute to funeral costs.
Applying for the benefit is a two-step process:
The application process must begin no more than two weeks after the death. Families are asked to contact the nearest Social Development office at 1-833-733-7835 to get started. Families must have the necessary information and documentation available at the time of application, and all documentation must be provided to the department within 15 days.
If a worker dies in a work related-injury, their spouse or dependent may be eligible for a survivor benefit through WorksafeNB.
The benefit received depends on when the death occurred. For any death after Jan. 1, 1998, WorkSafeNB pays benefits equal to 80 per cent of the deceased's worker's average net income for one year to the surviving spouse. In addition, the spouse must choose one of the following plans to receive benefits:
Benefits may also be awarded to dependent children, invalid children or a member of the deceased worker's family (as outlined in Section 3.0 of the policy).
For workplace-related deaths occurring on or after Dec. 20, 2012, WorksafeNB with also pay to the worker's estate:
Learn more about the Benefits for Survivors policy on the WorksafeNB website. Individuals can also call 1-800-999-9775 to report an accident, exposure, or general inquiries. Specific contact information can also be found on the contact us page.
A pension plan provides workers with a source of income after retirement. Contributions are made while working and set aside to fund retirement expenses. The government or employers can offer pension plans. Individuals can also typically opt out of a pension plan and use alternative sources (e.g., RRSP) for retirement.
Most pension plans include survivor benefits given to a worker's spouse or dependents after they die. The benefits can provide a source of income to families and be used to help cover funeral costs. Benefits are usually received as a lump sum or monthly payment for a period after death.
Below are examples of pension plans and survivor benefits available to New Brunswickers:
Learn more about New Brunswick pension plans on the Vestcor website. General information about pensions and retirement can also be found on the Financial and Consumer Services Commission website.
Some airlines offer families discounted fares to fly last minute due to an immediate family member's death. In Canada, bereavement fares are provided by Air Canada and WestJet. Learn more below:
Body donation is an option for individuals who want to contribute to the scientific community in death directly. Donating one's body helps further research, education, and training for current and future medical professionals. It can also significantly reduce funeral expenses.
New Brunswick does not have a dedicated body donation program, but Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia accepts donations from the province.
Interested applicants must complete a Donation and Cremation form with their next of kin and email it to humandonationprogram@dal.ca or send it by post to the address on the form.
The body must be accepted to be part of the program. The university will cover the cost for cremation and interment of ashes in the Dalhousie Memorial Garden or shipping of ashes to next of kin.
Learn more about the program at the links below:
Organ and tissue donations are also accepted in the province through the NB Organ and Tissue Program.
Federal financial assistance programs available to all Canadians, including New Brunswickers are outlined below.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides financial support to survivors after the death of a family member.
There are three types of CPP financial support payments:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least ten years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. For more information about the application process, check out this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or visit the Government of Canada website.
Memorial Grant Program for First Responders provides a benefit to the families of first responders who have died due to their duties. First responders include firefighters, paramedics, police officers, correctional officers, probation officers, and parole officers anywhere in Canada.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Learn more about the Memorial Grant on the program website.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
The monthly amount is adjusted occasionally. Check this website for thresholds and current amounts.
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor web page.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on a reserve in Canada.
The funds support the basic needs and can cover funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies from province to province. Learn more by contacting the local community's band office.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit that helps ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means-testing to determine the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. An LPF counsellor will respond to applications.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. It provides parents with weekly income support.
Eligible parents receive $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
If a worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or is a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the secondary country because of a social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
For help and answers to questions about a specific program, be sure to contact the program's administrators using the information provided above in each section.
Eirene can help you arrange a funeral and will work with the applicable funding program once you have qualified.
For information about our service areas please visit our locations page. To make arrangements in the provinces where we provide services, click here.
See also: Canadian funeral funding and financial assistance programs. You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca.
Funerals can be expensive, and unless the money has been set aside beforehand, it can be challenging to pay for desired services when a family member dies. Funeral financial assistance programs are designed to relieve some of the financial burdens for PEI families and help them fulfill their loved one's end-of-life wishes and put them to rest with dignity when they can't afford the costs. Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents of Prince Edward Island (PEI).
Some programs are a benefit to those that had had specific roles in life like serving in the military or as a first responder, others are government funeral financial assistance at the federal or provincial level to help pay for a basic funeral costs.
Here we list the various funeral funding programs available provincially in PEI. Later in this post we will also outline federal programs.
The PEI Social Assistance Program provides financial support to individuals or families that cannot provide necessities (e.g., food, shelter, rent, etc.) for themselves or to those that meet special emergency situations of need. Assistance with funeral expenses is also offered within the program.
Eligible applicants for the program may be granted assistance to cover the costs of basic funeral or burial expenses if:
Social Assistance can cover up to $6,000 worth of funeral expenses. Professional funeral services provided by a funeral director and embalmer (e.g., burial, cremation, visitation, etc.) will be covered up to a maximum of $5,000. Additional services are covered for up to $1,000. Additional services may include:
To apply for funeral expenses support, a family member or representative must demonstrate eligibility for Social Assistance or Assured Income. A Supports Coordinator, or Social Programs staff member will do this by completing a Supports Needs Assessment. To find out more about available support or begin the application process, please contact the Social Assistance Program at 1-877-569-0546.
General inquiries can also be directed to the Department of Development and Housing by phone at 902-620-3777 (Toll-free: 1-866-594-3777) or via email: DeptSDH@gov.pe.ca.
Assured Income is a program that offers financial support to individuals and families in PEI with disabilities that may not be able to provide for their basic needs and other essentials. Those eligible for the program may also qualify for funeral financial support.
The same funeral coverage and application process is used for Social Assistance and Assured Income recipients. Learn more about the Assured Income program on the PEI provincial website. General inquiries can also be directed to the Department of Development and Housing by phone at 902-620-3777 (Toll-free: 1-866-594-3777) or via email: DeptSDH@gov.pe.ca.
A pension plan provides a source of income for workers after retirement. Employees make contributions while working, which are set aside to fund post-work expenses.
Pension plans often include survivor benefits. These are given to a worker's spouse or dependents after they die and can be used to help cover funeral costs. Survivors usually receive the benefit as a lump sum or monthly payment after death.
Below are some of the pension plans available to PEI residents. Survivor options are outlined in each plan:
If a worker dies because of a work-related injury or disease, legal spouses, children, and dependents may be eligible for support through the Worker's Compensation Board of PEI.
Benefits available to families include:
Funeral expenses and survivor benefits are adjusted annually based on the increase in the cost of living. The adjustment will be the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (determined by Statistics Canada) to a maximum of four per cent.
For information about survivor benefits, families are encouraged to contact the Workers Compensation Board via their contact page: https://www.wcb.pe.ca/Information/ContactUs.
Body donation can help reduce funeral expenses almost entirely and is a way to contribute to current and future medical professionals' research, education, and training.
PEI does not have a body donation program in the province. However, the Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia accepts donations from PEI.
Interested applicants must complete a Donation and Cremation form with their next of kin. Completed forms are sent via email at humandonationprogram@dal.ca or by post to the address on the form.
If the body is accepted into the program, the university covers the costs for cremation and interment of ashes in the Dalhousie Memorial Garden or shipping of ashes to next of kin. Learn more about the body donation program on the Dalhousie University website.
While there is no designated body donation program in PEI, organ and tissue donations are accepted. Learn more on PEI's provincial website.
Bereavement fares are discounted fares offered to family members who need to fly last minute due to an immediate family member's death.
In Canada, these fares are offered by Air Canada and WestJet. Learn more about the programs at the links below:
The following funeral financial assistance programs are available to all Canadians, and include PEI residents.
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit provides survivors with financial support after the death of a family member.
There are three types of CPP financial support payments available:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least ten years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. For more information about the application process, check out this article: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or visit the Government of Canada website.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit that helps ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund.
Service eligibility for the Funeral and Burial Program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means-testing to determine the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. A LPF counsellor will respond to applications.
A Memorial Grant Program for First Responders is a benefit offered to the families of first responders who have died due to their duties. First responders include firefighters, paramedics, police officers, correctional officers, probation officers, and parole officers anywhere in Canada.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Learn more about the Memorial Grant on the program website
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on a reserve in Canada.
The funds support the basic needs and can cover funeral and burial costs. Clients may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies from province to province. Learn more by contacting the local community's band office.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. It provides parents coping with the loss of a child with weekly income support.
Eligible parents receive $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
If a worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or is a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the secondary country because of a social security agreement.
A social security agreement is an international agreement between Canada and another country designed to coordinate the pension programs of the two countries.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
The monthly amount is adjusted from time to time. Check this website for thresholds and current amounts.
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor web page.
For help and answers to questions about a specific program, be sure to contact the program's administrators using the information provided above in each section.
Eirene can help you arrange a funeral and will work with the applicable funding program once you have qualified.
To make arrangements click here. For information about our service areas please visit our locations page.
See also: Canadian funeral funding and financial assistance programs. You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca.
Funerals can be expensive, and some families struggle to pay for their loved one's final arrangements. Fortunately, financial assistance programs can help cover a portion or all the costs for Saskatchewan residents. Learn more about federal and provincial programs available to families in the province. They are outlined below and include contact information or links to reach each program administrator.
Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) is a program that provides financial assistance to individuals and families who cannot meet their living costs due to low income or unemployment. The program offers a variety of benefits, including a benefit to help support the costs of a funeral.
The amount available to residents is not listed on the Saskatchewan provincial website. Still, according to an SIS policy manual from January 2020,$2,100 is given for basic funeral expenses (e.g., body preparation, casket, urn, etc.). Funds are also provided for additional funeral expenses such as embalming, transportation, cremation, etc. Some services have limits to what will be covered. More information can be found in the manual.
An individual may be eligible to apply for SIS if:
Eligible applicants can apply online by creating a Saskatchewan account. Residents can also apply by calling Social Services at 1-866-221-5200 or TTY: 1-866-995-0099 or visit the nearest Social Services office from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
If an employee dies due to a work-related incident, legal spouses and dependents may be eligible for benefits offered by the Saskatchewan Worker's Compensation Board (WCB). These include spousal and dependent children benefits described in Sections 80 to 94 of The Workers' Compensation Act, 2013.
The WCB may also assist with burial expenses and counselling support for families.
If the death is determined to be the result of a work-related injury, WCB will:
Depending on the situation, WCB may offer counselling support by:
Assistance for these benefits must be approved in advance by the customer care facilitator working on the claim. Case managers will let families know which benefits are available. Learn more by contacting a customer care facilitator or calling 1-800-667-7590.
Saskatchewan Government Insurance offers benefits to surviving spouses and dependent children of a customer who is fatally injured because of a vehicle accident.
Benefits offered include:
To apply for death benefits, families must complete the Application for Death Benefits form with relevant source documents outlined on the Death Benefit Checklist section in the SGI Injury Manual. A Personal Injury Representative will also help guide families through the process.
The Compensation for Victims of Crime program offers compensation for reasonable expenses resulting from criminal actions of violence, such as physical or sexual assault, murder, robbery, and kidnapping. Victims can also apply for Restitutions for Victims of Crime for additional coverage.
Compensation may be awarded for funeral expenses to a maximum of $5,000 (if not covered by other programs). Different types of compensation include certain medical costs, counselling, loss of income, or damage to or loss of clothing because of the crime.
Individuals may be eligible if:
Eligible applicants can apply by filling out the appropriate Victims Compensation form(s) and mailing them to the Victims Service Branch.
A pension plan is a benefit that provides a source of income to workers after retirement. Survivor benefits may be included in pension plans. These benefits are given to the worker's spouse and/or dependents after the worker dies. A portion of the funds can be used to help cover the cost of funeral arrangements.
Below are some Pension Plans available to eligible Saskatchewan residents. Survivor options are outlined in each plan:
Body Donation in Saskatchewan
Body donation is an alternative option for those that cannot afford funeral services. In Saskatchewan, this is available through the Body Bequeathal Program administered by the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology in the University of Saskatchewan's College of Medicine.
To sign up for the program, applicants must do the following:
Contact information:
Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology
GA20-107 Wiggins Rd Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5
Phone: 1-306-966-4075
Fax:1-306-966-4298
Email: appadmin@usask.ca
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit is a federal program that provides survivors with financial support after a family member has died.
CPP has three types of financial support payments available to families:
To qualify for the CPP death benefit, a deceased person must have made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) for at least ten years or one-third of the calendar years in their contributory period for the base CPP and no less than three calendar years.
A worker can apply for the CPP benefit online or in person at a Service Canada location. This article discusses the application process: How the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit Can Help Fund a Funeral or the Government of Canada website.
The Income Assistance program provides funds to individuals living on reserve in Canada.
The program provides funds for basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter; and special needs, including goods and services essential to physical and social well-being.
Eligible applicants can also include funeral and burial costs. They may receive up to $3,500 and no more than $6,000 to repatriate (when applicable) the remains by rail, air, or vehicle transport.
To be eligible for the program, a client must demonstrate:
The application process varies depending on location. Learn more by contacting the local community's band office.
The Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) funeral and burial program is a benefit that helps ensure Veterans have dignified funeral or burial services. It is administered by the Last Post Fund.
Service eligibility for the program extends to:
If the individual meets the criteria, eligibility will be established through financial means testing. This determines the financial need or as a "matter of right." Matter-of-right is when the Veterans Association Canada determines that the cause of death is due to service.
Assistance will be provided in one of two ways:
Apply for the Last Post Fund benefit online or by phone at 1-800-465-7113. An LPF counsellor will respond to applications.
A Memorial Grant Program for First Responders is a benefit offered to the families of first responders who have died due to their duties. This includes firefighters, paramedics, police officers, probation officers, correctional workers, and parole and probation officers in Saskatchewan and other parts of Canada.
The program provides a one-time, tax-free direct maximum payment of $300,000 to the beneficiaries of first responders.
The Memorial Grant does not compensate beneficiaries of first responders for monetary loss (income replacement) or serve as life insurance.
Information about the Memorial Grant Program can be found on this website.
The Allowance for the Survivor is a monthly payment for eligible Canadians who have lost their spouse. This program is available to people who:
To apply for this benefit, complete the steps outlined in the "Your application" section on the Allowance for the Survivor web page.
If a worker lived or worked both in Canada and in another country or is a survivor of someone who has, they or their survivors may be eligible for pensions and benefits from Canada and the other country because of a social security agreement.
Canada has signed social security agreements with several countries that offer comparable pension programs. Learn more about the agreements, eligibility, and the application process on this website.
This benefit is offered to parents or guardians who have lost a child to crime-related circumstances. The death or disappearance of a child often causes parents to miss work or lose income when coping with the loss. The benefit provides grieving parents with weekly income support.
Eligible parents receive payments of $450 per week, paid every two weeks, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of two years. Recipients can choose to stop receiving the benefit or restart at a later date at any time within the two years.
Apply using the online application or by mail using the following forms:
Payment begins immediately after submission for those eligible.
Eirene can help you arrange a funeral and will work with the applicable funding program. To make arrangements click here. For information about our service areas please visit our locations page.
See also: Canadian funeral funding and financial assistance programs. You can reach us via email at support@eirene.ca.
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