Mortality Assistance Benefit

Mortality Assistance Benefit

The death of a loved one can be an extremely difficult time for families – both emotionally, and financially.

This benefit provides CWU families with some financial relief in the unfortunate event of a member, or their spouse, passing away.

This benefit is not an insurance scheme. It is a benefit that is funded directly from CWU Central Branch member contributions.

What is the benefit?

Upon application, an assistance payment of $2000 shall be made to:

    • A member, following the passing of an eligible spouse; and
    • The next of kin, following the passing of an eligible member.

Eligible member

A deceased ‘eligible member’ was a member of the CWU Central Branch (‘the Branch’), who was a fully paid financial member of the Branch, or its predecessor Branches, for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the declared date of their passing; or subject to an approved temporary waiver of dues on the date of their passing but maintained a minimum of 12 months’ continuous financial membership of the Branch, or its predecessor Branches, immediately prior to the date such waiver of dues was granted by the Branch Committee of Management.

Eligible spouse

A spouse is a person, as defined by the Family Law Act 1975 as being a person who is a party to a marriage; or party to a de facto relationship. A deceased ‘eligible spouse’ was the spouse of a member, who:

    1. Is a fully paid financial member of the Branch, or its predecessor Branches, for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the declared date of their spouse’s passing; or subject to an approved temporary waiver of dues on the date of their spouse’s passing but maintained a minimum of 12 months’ continuous financial membership of the Branch, or its predecessor Branches, immediately prior to the date such waiver of dues was granted by the Branch Committee of Management; and
    2. Pays their membership contributions annually, in advance, or by a regular direct debit method.

Next of kin

In applying this policy, the Branch will recognise the executor of an eligible member’s will as their next of kin. If the eligible member has passed without a valid will, the Branch will identify a next of kin from the following list, in priority order:

    • The eligible member’s spouse, as defined by the Family Law Act 1975;
    • The eligible member’s parents;
    • The eligible members oldest adult sibling; or
    • A person determined by the coroner as the senior next of kin because of their closeness to the deceased eligible member, immediately before they died.

How to make a claim

An application form and statutory declaration will be made available to an applicant;

Application forms must be returned fully completed by the applicant, including the accompaniment of evidentiary documents, as specified on the application form.

Eligibility exception

In extenuating circumstances that prevent a claim from meeting all the requirements of this policy, the Branch Committee of Management shall have the discretion to grant an extraordinary approval of such a claim – in part, or in full.

This policy may be varied

This policy was determined by the Branch Committee of Management on 16 November 2022. The Branch Committee of Management may vary or rescind this policy, at its discretion.

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