Financial Assistance for Funerals or Burials
Eligibility | Funeral Rites | Reimbursement | Required Documentation | Rates | Who to Contact | Funeral Burial and Cremations Policy
The cost of a funeral and burial is a discretionary benefit under the Ontario Works Act.
Eligibility
The Region of Peel may be able to help with the cost of a funeral, burial, or cremation if the following criteria applies:
- Resident in the Region of Peel
- In receipt of Ontario Works assistance, or
- In receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program assistance, or
- Family is low-income
All requests for funeral and burial assistance are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Funeral Rites
Funeral rites vary according to custom and culture. We respect these rites and will assess requests for variations or alternative funeral arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
Reimbursement
Please be sure to apply for assistance before the funeral, burial, or cremation takes place. Costs cannot be reimbursed without prior approval.
Required Documentation
The following documents/identification are required with your application for financial assistance:
- Earning/income verification
- Immigration documents (proof of status in Canada)
- Last Will
- Life insurance policy
- Name of funeral home and cemetery
- Ontario Health Card
- Original Birth Certificate
- Social Insurance Number
- Verification of all current bank accounts
- Verification of assets
- Verification of shelter expenses
Funeral , Burial and Cremation Rates
The current rates for funeral, burial and cremation are available here.Who to Contact
For more information or to request financial aid for a funeral, burial, or cremation, please call Ontario Works in Peel at 905-793-9200, Monday thru Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Outside regular business hours, please contact the After Hours Line at 905-451-6108.
Funeral Burial and Cremations Policy
Please review our manual which details the policies and procedures that can be referenced when completing a funeral application for; an OW client; a recipient of ODSP; or lower income persons/Non Social Assistance Recipient (Non-SARS).
- Funeral Burial
and Cremations Policy Manual
(.pdf, 46 pages, 159KB)