To allow the surviving family or next of kin time to get their affairs in order following the death of an Income Support (IS) recipient.

POLICY

Surviving Family on IS
When an IS client dies and has a surviving family that remains on IS they are allowed one month of IS benefits issued before the department’s notification of the death, to pay for extra costs incurred by the death.

1. Deceased Head of Household (HH)
   
   If the deceased was the HH, the file is closed at the end of the month in which the death occurred. The surviving spouse/partner must apply for IS benefits as HH. An extra shelter benefit, in the amount the shelter was reduced, may be given for one full month after the month in which the client died using Need Code 1109 Additional Shelter.

    

2. Deceased Not HH
   
   If the household unit’s liquid assets remain within regulated limits, the worker deletes the deceased from the file and adjusts the budget for the following month. An extra shelter benefit, in the amount the shelter was reduced, may be given for one full month using Need Code 1109 Additional Shelter.
   
   If the household unit now has liquid assets over the exemption limits, the client is advised the excess assets must be used to help pay for the funeral expenses. If the assets are still in excess of the allowable level, the file is closed at the end of the month in which the death occurred.

No Surviving Family
When an IS client dies and there is no surviving family, the next of kin or estate administrator may use one month of IS benefits issued before the department’s notification of the death to pay extra costs incurred from the death (e.g., apartment cleaning, utility bills, certificates, travel, etc.).

The maximum IS benefits that the IS client’s estate can receive is the first month’s benefits following the death of the client.

PROCEDURES

Immediately upon notification of a client’s death, the worker:

1. Checks Client Budget function 9 to review the Cheque Release flag, CRC flag and Payment Status flag for the current assistance period and
   • If a payment has not been generated (G) or printed (P), sets the Cheque Release flag and CRC flag to “N” for the current assistance period and any future periods that exist, or

      

   • If the payment has already been generated or printed, allows the family or estate to receive the IS benefit.

    

2. Indicates on the comments line of the CRC Processing screen 5 that no further benefits are to be issued as the client is deceased.

    

3. Records the date of the client’s death and any other relevant information.

    

4. Enters a deceased date on the Person Profile (SCCS030) screen of CCD.
   
   Example
   If the client died in January and the worker is not notified until after the February payment is generated or printed, the estate would receive the February IS benefits. March IS benefits would be withheld.