Ministry Assistance with Funeral Costs

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A person's death is a time for mourning and honouring the life that is now gone.

When a person dies, and there are no resources for funeral expenses through either the individual's estate or family unit, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development may assist with these costs.

This service is available to all citizens of British Columbia.

The Legal Representative

When a death occurs, a legal representative for the deceased must be determined. Section 5 of the Cemetery, Interment and Funeral Services Act explains the guidelines for establishing legal representatives. Legal representation is most often a relative, but in cases where there are no relatives or they are unable to assume this responsibility, the ministry may make arrangements for services and payment to the funeral home.

Once the legal representative has determined that there are no resources for funeral expenses through the deceased's estate or family unit, they may apply to the ministry for assistance.

To establish eligibility, the ministry requires:

• Name and address of the deceased
• Name of the next of kin
• A statement of the deceased's income and assets
• A request to the ministry to cover funeral costs

A ministry supplement paid to assist with funeral costs is a debt due to the government and may be recovered from the deceased's estate.

Making Arrangements

If ministry assistance has been requested, funeral arrangements can be made as soon as eligibility has been established.

Costs covered by the ministry are based on a set rate and include the Funeral Provider's Service Fee, casket or urn, and cemetery or crematorium fees. Additional items and services to honour the deceased and to pay respect to the individual's personal, cultural and religious beliefs may be purchased by families, at their own expense.

Legal representatives for the deceased have several decisions to make:

• The choice of funeral home
• A memorial or a funeral service
• Burial or cremation

When the ministry must act as the legal representative, funeral homes are selected on a rotational basis except where the deceased was a resident of Vancouver. In that instance, services may be provided by a ministry contracted funeral home.

The ministry may fund the following items and services through the funeral service provider:

• Transfer of the deceased from place of death to a funeral home within a 32 km radius
• Counselling and co-ordinating services with the family unit, including staff services for directing the funeral and/or visitation
• Obtaining the medical certification of death, completing government forms and obtaining necessary permits and documentation
• Hygienic preparation (if requested), dressing and restoration for viewing
• Visitation prior to the service
• Funeral staff and services at a funeral chapel or church
• Provision of a funeral coach
• Provision of taped music at the service, if available
• Co-ordination of services with the clergy, and the cemetery or crematorium
• A ministry supplement may be available to assist with out of province funeral costs (Ministry of Housing and Social Development clients only)

For More Information

Contact the Ministry of Housing and Social Development by calling: 1-866-866-0800