To tell Centrelink and Medicare that someone has died, you can make one notification to Services Australia that updates both, or contact each directly. Here is how to notify them, the numbers to call, and the bereavement payment you may be owed as the surviving partner.
Why does timing matter when notifying Centrelink?
Centrelink pays benefits in advance. If the person who died was receiving any Centrelink payment, including the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, or Carer Payment, those payments may continue until Centrelink is notified. Any amount paid after the date of death becomes an overpayment, which the estate is required to repay.
Notifying Centrelink promptly stops this from accumulating. It also starts the process for any bereavement payments you may be eligible to receive as the surviving partner.
How do I notify Centrelink?
The simplest way is the Advice of Death form (SA116). One form to Services Australia updates Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support together, and should be returned within 28 days of the death.
You can also notify Centrelink directly: through myGov if the person had a linked account, in person at a Services Australia service centre, or by phone. There is no single Centrelink death line, so call the line for the payment the person was receiving and say "bereavement" when prompted. For the Age Pension, that is the Older Australians line on 132 300.
You will need the person's full name, date of birth, Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) if available, and date of death. If you do not have the CRN, Centrelink can locate the record using the name and date of birth. Have your own identification ready as well.
Centrelink staff are generally patient and experienced with bereavement calls. You do not need to have everything organised before you call.
Which payments stop after a death?
Most Centrelink payments stop on the date of death. This includes the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, JobSeeker, and Carer Payment. Any amount paid after this date is an overpayment.
Centrelink will calculate what was overpaid, if anything, and advise the estate. Keep records of all Centrelink payments received after the date of death so you can reconcile this accurately.
What bereavement payments am I entitled to as the surviving partner?
If both you and the person who died were receiving an income support payment, you as the surviving partner may be entitled to a lump sum Bereavement Payment. It is usually worked out over the 14 weeks after the death, based on the difference between the couple rate you were paid and your new single rate, and it helps with expenses in the period after a death.
Centrelink will usually assess entitlement automatically when you call to notify them. Ask specifically about bereavement entitlements if it is not raised. Entitlement depends on the type of payment the deceased was receiving and your own circumstances.
If your own Centrelink payments change as a result of the death, for example if you were receiving a Carer Payment, Centrelink will assess your new situation and advise on what you may be entitled to going forward.
How do I notify Medicare?
Notify Medicare by calling 132 011 or through myGov. Medicare will cancel the person's Medicare card, which prevents any further claims being made in their name.
If the person had a Medicare Safety Net history, their contribution to the household safety net threshold resets when they die. This may affect your own out-of-pocket medical costs for the remainder of the year. Ask Medicare about this when you call.
If the person had a private health insurance policy in their name, contact the insurer separately to cancel or transfer the policy.
How do I handle DVA and other government payments?
If the person was a veteran receiving payments from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), notify DVA on 1800 838 372 (1800 VETERAN), or email Bereavement.SA@dva.gov.au. There may be ongoing payments or benefits available to the surviving partner through DVA, including the War Widow's or Widower's Pension.
For any other government payments, check myGov for accounts linked to the person's name and notify the relevant agency directly.
What is the Australian Death Notification Service?
The Australian Death Notification Service (ADNS) at deathnotification.gov.au allows you to notify multiple government agencies and some private organisations with a single online submission. It is available after you have the death certificate.
ADNS covers a range of government agencies, including Centrelink, Medicare and the ATO, along with a growing number of banks, superannuation funds, utilities, and insurance companies. Participating organisations opt in, so the list changes over time; check the site for who is currently covered.
Using ADNS does not replace contacting individual organisations directly where specific documentation or decisions are required, but it reduces the number of separate notifications you need to make significantly.
What documents do I need when notifying Centrelink?
For Centrelink and Medicare notifications, you will need a certified copy of the death certificate, your own photo identification, and the deceased's Centrelink CRN or Medicare number if available. You do not need to have all of these before calling. Centrelink can find records without the CRN.
Keep a record of the date you notified each agency, the reference number provided, and the name of the person you spoke to. This protects you if there are any subsequent disputes about overpayments or entitlements.
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Last reviewed 13 July 2026
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