Funeral benefits

Overview

Funeral benefits may be available to help pay for burial or cremation and funeral arrangements for deceased Albertans who were receiving assistance through the:

• Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program
• Income Support program

Funeral benefits may also be available for deceased Albertans with low income.

Funeral benefits are for expenses related to:

• the burial or cremation and the funeral of the deceased within Alberta
• transporting the deceased to another province in Canada for burial or cremation

Eligibility

Eligible benefit programs

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program

Funeral benefits may be available for a deceased individual who was receiving AISH or who was a spouse or partner, or a dependent child of an AISH client at the time of death, if eligibility criteria are met.

Funeral benefits are issued as a personal benefit by the AISH program.

Learn more about AISH funeral benefits.

Income Support program

Funeral benefits may be available for a deceased individual who was a member of a household receiving Income Support at the time of death, if eligibility criteria are met.

Funeral benefits are issued as a supplementary benefit by the Income Support program.

Learn more about Income Support funeral benefits.

Albertans with low income

Funeral benefits may be available for deceased Albertans with low income, who were not receiving benefits through the AISH or Income Support programs. To be eligible, individuals must be residents of Alberta and meet financial criteria.

Learn more about funeral benefit eligibility for Albertans with low income.

How to apply

To apply for funeral benefits, complete the appropriate application form below, collect the required information, and submit the form by email, or fax, or mail. Once your application has been received and reviewed, you will be informed of your eligibility by email, if an email address is provided, and then again by mail.

By email

Email: [email protected]
Subject line: Funeral Benefits Application

By fax

To: Health and Funeral Benefits Unit
Subject line: Funeral Benefits Application
Fax: 780-643-9228
Toll-free fax: 1-855-643-9228

By mail

Health and Funeral Benefits Unit
Seniors, Community and Social Services
Government of Alberta
PO Box 805 Stn Main
Edmonton, Alberta  T5J 2L4

Application forms

Choose the appropriate application form based on the circumstance of the deceased:

AISH funeral benefits

When the deceased individual was receiving AISH, or was the spouse or partner or dependent child of an individual receiving AISH at the time of death:

• Funeral Benefits Application for AISH Clients (PDF, 95 KB)
• Guide to Completing the AISH Funeral Benefits Application

Income Support funeral benefits

When the deceased individual was a member of a household receiving Income Support at the time of death:

• Funeral Benefits Application for IS Clients (PDF, 86 KB)
• Request for Estimate – CPP Death Benefit (PDF, 84 KB)
• Guide to Completing the Income Support Funeral Benefits Application

Albertan with low income funeral benefits

For all other low income Albertans:

• Funeral Benefits Application for Albertans with Low Income (PDF, 137 KB)
• Request for Estimate – CPP Death Benefit (PDF, 84 KB)
• Guide to Completing the SCSS Funeral Benefits Application

Related forms

Funeral Benefits: Payment Direction (PDF, 218 KB) – Required information for the payment of a funeral benefit, including payee information and required documentation. It can be completed either with a funeral benefits application or after a funeral benefit approval letter has been received.

Funeral Benefits: Request for an Exceptional Amount (PDF, 231 KB) – Used to request funds in excess of the maximum funeral benefit rates, in extraordinary circumstances. It can be completed either with a funeral benefits application or after a funeral benefits approval letter has been received.

Service providers

Resources for service providers who assist Albertans with funeral arrangements:

• Provider’s Guide to the Funeral Benefits Application
• Cemeteries fact sheet

Contact

Connect with the Health and Funeral Benefits Unit if you have questions:

Office hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-638-4443
Toll free: 1-855-638-4443