How to Notify Centrelink When Someone Dies in Australia (And Why Timing Matters)
Have a question about this? Ask the Guide → the chat widget at the bottom-right of this page can answer it. Reading time: 6 minutes | The Executor’s Guide — Plain English. Step by step. Written for the person who just found out.
Why You Need to Act Quickly
If the deceased was receiving any Centrelink payment, those payments will continue until Centrelink is notified. Every payment made after the date of death is an overpayment — and overpayments become a debt that the estate must repay.
The longer the delay in notification, the larger the debt. Age Pension alone is currently around $1,100 per fortnight for a single person. Two months of payments before notification creates a $2,200 debt against the estate that would otherwise not exist.
Centrelink does not forgive overpayments resulting from delayed notification. They will pursue recovery from the estate.
What Centrelink Payments to Check For
Common payments that must be cancelled on death:
- Age Pension
- Disability Support Pension
- Carer Payment
- JobSeeker Payment
- Parenting Payment
- Family Tax Benefit
- Youth Allowance
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card
- Low Income Health Care Card
- Pensioner Concession Card
If you’re not sure what the deceased was receiving, Centrelink can look this up when you call.
How to Notify Centrelink
Option 1 — Australian Death Notification Service (recommended)
The Australian Death Notification Service at deathnotification.gov.au allows you to notify multiple government agencies at once, including Centrelink / Services Australia, Medicare, the Australian Passport Office, and some state and territory agencies.
You’ll need: the deceased’s full name, date of birth, date of death, Medicare card number if available, and your own details. This is the fastest option and should be your first step.
Option 2 — Call Centrelink directly
Call the Bereavement line: 132 300
Have ready: the deceased’s full name and date of birth, their Customer Reference Number (CRN) if you have it, the date of death, a certified copy of the death certificate, and your own name and relationship to the deceased.
Option 3 — Visit a Services Australia centre in person
Bring the death certificate and your own ID. This can be faster if you have documents ready and your nearest centre isn’t far.
What Happens After Notification
Centrelink will cancel the deceased’s payments from the date of death, identify any overpayments and calculate what is owed, and issue a letter to the estate about any debt.
If there’s an overpayment, the estate must repay it before distributing assets to beneficiaries. Centrelink debts are treated like any other estate debt — they are paid before distribution.
If the deceased’s surviving spouse was receiving payments, Centrelink will reassess their entitlement. There may also be a Bereavement Allowance available for surviving partners in some circumstances — ask about this when you call.
Documents You’ll Need
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Deceased’s Customer Reference Number (CRN) — found on any Centrelink correspondence
- Your own ID and your relationship to the deceased
The Common Mistake
Many executors delay the Centrelink notification because they’re focused on the funeral, finding the will, and dealing with immediate family. Centrelink slips to the “I’ll get to that” list.
The rule: notify within the first week, ideally within the first 48 hours using the Death Notification Service.
Notification Letter Template
The Executor Notification Letter Pack includes a pre-written letter for notifying Centrelink by post or email — covering all required information and formatted for their deceased estates process.
View the Executor Notification Letter Pack →
The Executor’s Guide provides general information about estate administration in Australia. It is not legal advice.
Related guides
- What to Do When Someone Dies in Australia
- What Is an Executor?
- Executor Duties in Australia: The Complete Legal Guide
- Do I Need Probate? A Plain-English Guide
Notifying banks, government agencies and other organisations means writing a lot of similar letters. The Notification Letter Pack gives you ready-to-send templates for each one.
Get the Notification Letter Pack (A$29)Or get the free checklist