After a Death: Get Support When Someone Dies
You can use a journal to stay organized, or print the After a Death Checklist (PDF, 3.8MB) which lets you check off tasks and make notes. Many people find this helpful. Keep it in a safe place. Collect important documents and keep them in the same place.
BC Bereavement Helpline (and BC Victims of Homicide)
Offers you care and support when going through grief. 1-877-779-2223
Service Canada
You may qualify for financial help such as a Death Benefit. 1-800-277-9914
On this page:
- Emotional supports
- Financial entitlements and supports
- Resources for Indigenous Peoples
- Veterans supports
- Legal help
Emotional supports
Emotional supports can help people to understand and process someone’s death. Most people find these resources helpful when experiencing grief or loss.
You can also ask a doctor or funeral director to refer you to local or online resources. This list serves as a starting point to find help for your individual needs and situation.
A free helpline for grief. This non-profit confidential service connects you to a caring volunteer who can listen. They are familiar with support groups, organizations and resources across the province.
How to contact
- Visit their website
- Toll free 1-877-779-2223 (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm)
A free helpline providing support to people in distress. Call if you’re worried, upset, confused or just want to talk to someone.
How to contact
Search for a counsellor or psychologist in British Columbia. Find a professional who can help you with grief or other difficulties that come up when someone dies.
- See Counselling BC
Get help with substance use or addiction.
Offers suicide prevention resources, including support groups and programs.
How to contact
Free information and support for life-threatening illness, end of life care, loss and grief, including:
- Canadian Virtual Hospice
Information and support on advanced illness, palliative care, and grief.
- MyGrief.ca
Confidential support developed by families and grief experts. Online information and interactive lessons to help you cope with grief. Free for Canadians.
- LivingMyCulture.ca
Sharing of cultural stories and wisdom about living with serious illness, end of life and grief.
Financial entitlements and supports
Financial support services can help ease the burden and difficulty of costs associated with someone's death.
An employee in B.C. gets up to three days of unpaid leave when an immediate family member dies. Talk to your employer about time off work. There are also financial support options.
Do this
- If you need unpaid leave to grieve, attend a funeral or take care of issues relating to the death of an immediate family member
What you need
- To be an employee covered by B.C. employment standards
For more information
- Visit Employment Standards
- Call toll-free 1-833-236-3700
If you can’t afford the funeral costs of a person who dies in B.C., you might qualify for funds to help with a portion of the costs.
Do this
- If you can’t afford the funeral costs
- If the assets of the person who died don’t cover the funeral costs
What you need
- Social Insurance Number (but not the physical card) of the person who died
For more information
- Call toll-free 1-866-866-0800
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) death benefit is a one-time, lump-sum payment to the estate on behalf of a deceased CPP contributor. The amount of the death benefit depends on how much and for how long the deceased contributed to the CPP. The maximum is $2,500.
- Apply for the Death Benefit – Government of Canada
Do this
- If the person who died contributed to CPP
What you need
- Application for CPP Death Benefit Death Certificate (ISP1200)
- Or certified copy or an alternative document
- See How to Apply for the Canada Pension Plan Death Benefit (PDF)
- Social Insurance Number recorded on all documents
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
- Apply for the Children’s Benefit – Government of Canada
The Canada Pension Plan (CPP) children’s benefit provides payments to dependent children of deceased CPP contributors if the contributor has made enough contributions to CPP.
Do this
- If the person who died contributed to CPP and had dependent children
What you need
- Application for a CPP Survivor's Pension and Child(ren)'s Benefits (ISP1300)
- Application for a CPP Child's Benefit (ISP1400)
- Declaration of Attendance at School or University
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
The Allowance for the Survivor benefit is available to people aged 60 to 64 who have a low income, who are living in Canada, and whose spouse or common-law partner has died. A person must apply in writing for this benefit.
- Apply for the Allowance for the Survivor – Government of Canada
Do this
- If you’re aged 60 to 64, have a low income, live in Canada, and have a spouse or common-law partner who died
What you need
- Statement of Income for the Renewal of the Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Allowance or the Allowance for the Survivor application form
- Application for the Allowance or Allowance for the Survivor form
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
If you have taken time off work temporarily to care for or support a family member who was gravely ill and has died, you may be eligible for Caregiving Benefits through EI.
Do this
- If you took time off work to care for a family member who was ill and died
What you need
- Authorization to release a medical certificate
- Medical Certificate
- Record of Employment
- Attestation for non-family members
- Your personal and employment information
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
Let Service Canada know if the person who died was receiving EI. If the deceased person had not applied for EI benefits, the legal representative can apply in the name of the person who died. EI benefits may be paid to the legal representative or a person authorized to inherit property of the person who died.
Do this
- If the person who died was receiving EI
What you need
- Completed Request for Payment of Benefit on Behalf of a Deceased Person (INS2882)
- Copy of the Death Certificate
- A certificate from the director of a funeral home or an administrator of a hospital or clinic, or a letter from a physician, graduate nurse, or member of the clergy
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
Under the Crime Victim Assistance Program, immediate family members of an injured or deceased victim, and some witnesses may be eligible for financial assistance or benefits relating to crimes which occurred in B.C.
Do this
- If the person who died was a victim of a crime
What you need
For more information
- Visit the Crime Victim Assistance Program
- Call toll-free 1-866-660-3888
If an insured person is killed in a motor vehicle crash, Basic Autoplan will reimburse burial and funeral expenses of up to $7,500.
Do this
- If the person who died was killed in a motor vehicle crash
What you need
- Reported claim
For more information
- Visit ICBC
- Call toll-free 1-800-910-4222
If a member of the Canadian Armed Forces dies, their legal spouse or common law partner, their children under the age of 18 years, or their children aged 18 to 25 years enrolled as a full-time student, may be eligible for a survivor pension or child pension.
Do this
- If the person who died was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces
What you need
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificates of survivors
- Sworn declarations
- Documented evidence of common-law relationship
For more information
- Visit Service Canada
- Call toll-free 1-800-277-9914
The Last Post Fund delivers the Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral & Burial Program. It helps with funeral, burial and grave marking for veterans who meet the financial and service criteria.
Do this
- If the person who died was an eligible military veteran
What you need
For more information
- Visit the Last Post Fund
- Call toll-free 1-800-465-7113
WorkSafe BC provides information for compensation on death of a worker including funeral and other death benefits. Where compensation is payable as the result of an injury resulting in death, an amount for funeral expenses is paid with other compensation.
WorkSafe BC also has a booklet with information on assistance available and lists resources that may be helpful following a work-related death.
Do this
- If the person who died as a result of a workplace accident
What you need
- Full name of the person who died
- Their date of birth
- Their date of death
- Their Social Insurance Number (if available)
- Their employer's name
For more information
- Visit WorkSafe BC
- Call toll-free 1-888-967-5377
Resources for Indigenous Peoples
If the person who died was Indigenous, contact their community to learn about options and resources.
- Contact Indigenous Services Canada about Burial on a Reserve
- Find a First Nation in the First Nations A-Z Listing
- Read the Guide to Indigenous Organizations & Services to learn more or find other points of contact
- Contact the Métis Nation British Columbia
- Contact the Inuit Tapirit Kanatami
Veterans supports
If the person who died was a veteran, access information and resources from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Read more about related financial support options:
Legal help
Understand your legal rights and address your legal issues. Many of the listed services and resources are free. Depending on the circumstances of the death, you may want to talk to a lawyer or access legal information.
Free legal help and access to justice in B.C. from volunteer lawyers.
- Visit Access Pro Bono
Information, advice, and representation for British Columbians. Priority is given to people with low incomes.
- Visit Legal Aid BC
Get an action plan for a legal issue, including wills information and dialogue or mediation tools.
- Visit My Law BC
Information on wills, dealing with an estate and personal planning.
- Visit Dial-A-Law
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