The Financial Assistance Scheme phone lines will be closed for maintenance on Wednesday 26 February 2025.

18.4 Distress

Related victims are eligible for assistance to be paid in recognition of the distress already experienced, or likely to be experienced, due to the passing of a loved one.[37]

The FAS will pay a distress payment to related victims, provided they can show:

  • they are a related victim, and
  • they had a genuine personal relationship with the primary victim at the time of their death.

The payment amounts for different related victims are as follows:

Relationship to primary victimFlat payment amount
Spouse or domestic partner of the primary victim$20,000
Children and step-children of the primary victim$20,000
Parents, guardians or step-parents of the primary victim$20,000
Siblings or step-siblings of the primary victim$20,000
A person who had an intimate personal relationship with the primary victim$6,500
Any other close family members of the primary victim$6,500
Financial dependants of the primary victim (non-child dependant)$6,500

The FAS can also make additional payments if certain criteria are met, in consideration of the related victim’s individual circumstances and distress suffered.


Footnotes

[37] Section 16(2)(c) of the Act.

Updated