Subsidized Funeral and Burial Services

Niagara Region provides financial assistance for funeral, burial and cremation services at a funeral home or place of worship.

Eligibility

Niagara residents receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits
Low income residents of Niagara may also be eligible for services

A full eligibility review of the deceased person's estate must be completed by Niagara Region before completing funeral arrangements. If the deceased is a dependent child (up to 17 years of age), the application for assistance will be based on the parent or legal guardian's eligibility for funeral services.

Criteria

Individuals are eligible for help with the cost of funeral, burial and cremation services if they meet the following criteria:

The deceased is a Niagara resident
The deceased has no valid life insurance policy or prepaid funeral that exists where the value exceeds the costs of the services requested
Available funds in the deceased's estate (bank accounts, RRSPs, life insurance and prepaid funerals) are less than the maximum cost of the funeral, burial and cremation services requested as outlined in Niagara’s Funeral Fee Schedule
There are no other financial resources available to cover the cost of funeral, burial and cremation services that may be available for individuals who served in the military, suffered from a motor vehicle accident or a work related death, First Nations members who live on a reservation or victims of crime

Apply Online for Benefits

The Discretionary Benefits Portal is a fast, easy and secure way to apply online for funeral benefits. You can apply anytime, anywhere and on any device.

To register, you must have a valid email address. Once registered, you can:

Track the status of all your current and past applications
Upload documents needed for your application
Get automatic email updates on your application status
See details about missing information or eligibility decisions
Apply for multiple items in one application

If you can't apply online, call 905-641-9960 ext. 6026.

Apply online for funeral benefits

Application process

After applying, you will be contacted within one business day to review your application with a staff member. Applications for financial assistance must be approved by Niagara Region before funeral arrangements are finalized.

If the death occurs on the weekend, holiday, or if there are time sensitive cultural / religious requirements, apply online for funeral benefits or contact our office immediately and leave a message to ensure your application is prioritized during regular business hours.

What you will need to apply

The following documents of the deceased person are needed to complete the application for funeral, burial and cremation services:

One piece of identification of the deceased and applicant such as:
- Birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card, citizenship documents
- Driver's licence
- Social insurance number
- Health card
Will
Life insurance policy
Pre-paid funeral
Verification of current bank account(s)
Income verification
Verification of assets, including RRSPs, bonds, stocks, investments, etc.

Funeral fee schedule

We provide financial help for funeral, burial and cremation services under Niagara's Funeral Fee Schedule:

Direct disposition funeral service (no ceremony or funeral services included)
Cremation services through Bayview Crematorium
Purchase of a single burial or cremation plot
Opening and closing costs for a burial or cremation plot

Burial services must take place within 60 days of the funeral approval. Niches, mausoleums and tombstones are not eligible items.

Individuals wishing to purchase items and services that are not included, such as a visitation or service, urn, newspaper / website placement and costs, clergy, register book and other stationery, executor / follow-up assistance, after hours services, and other additional services or alternative merchandise may contract directly with funeral and burial providers to purchase at their own cost.

Recovery of funeral, burial and cremation costs

After the funeral, burial and cremation service, Niagara Region will recover all costs paid from the estate of the deceased, including any income or assets eligible for recovery, such as cash in bank accounts and CPP Death Benefit.

Interment rights

If Niagara Region purchases a burial plot, the ownership of the plot (interment rights) will be held by the cemetery in the estate of the deceased. Contact the cemetery to request access to the interment rights or to request alterations or additions to the burial plot.

Niagara Region is not responsible for any costs associated with the transfer of interment rights or changes to the plot.

Death certificates

If you require a Proof of Death Certificate, contact the funeral home. Certificates will be marked "not for financial gain" until the full costs of the services are recovered by Niagara Region from the deceased's estate.

Transportation costs

Transportation costs are the responsibility of the family if the:

Deceased died in Niagara and the funeral, burial and cremation services are requested to take place outside of Niagara or in a place other than where the death occurred
Funeral, burial and cremation services requested are in Niagara and the death occurred outside Ontario