Funeral grant assistance after a stillbirth

Written by Henry Smith · Reviewed by Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931) · Updated 2026-10-20 · Reviewed quarterly, when the underlying data is restated.

Financial advice is provided by Craig Smith Business Services Limited, trading as Smiths Insurance & KiwiSaver, a licensed Financial Advice Provider (FSP712931). QuoteHub is a trading name.

We are sorry you are reading this. Yes: Work and Income says "a Funeral Grant can be paid for the reasonable funeral expenses of a stillborn child". The maximum is $2,697.43, and it is tested against the parents' income and the child's assets. A baby counts as stillborn if not alive when born and weighing at least 400 g or born after the 20th week of pregnancy (Work and Income, read 20 October 2026).

You do not have to decide everything at once, and you do not need to know the figures to begin. A funeral director can explain the options for a baby and handle the paperwork, and Work and Income can tell you what to bring. The Funeral Grant is for "reasonable funeral, cremation and burial costs", it is not a loan, and it does not need to be repaid if you meet the criteria (govt.nz). Councils charge far less for babies than for adults, and some charge nothing for a cremation. This page sets out who the grant covers, what the tests are, what the costs of a baby's funeral can look like, and where to find support. It is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

Does the grant cover a stillbirth?

Work and Income's guidance for a deceased child says two things. A stillborn child qualifies if it was not alive when born and either weighed at least 400 g or was born after the 20th week of pregnancy. A baby who was born alive and then died also qualifies, "whether or not the pregnancy was longer than 20 weeks" (Work and Income). The same threshold of 400 g or more, or after the 20th week, is the legal meaning of stillbirth in the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 2021, which the Holidays Act uses for bereavement leave (legislation.govt.nz).

For a pregnancy loss earlier than that, we found no Funeral Grant provision. If you are in that position, ask Work and Income directly on 0800 559 009 (number from Community Law) and ask the hospital or midwife what support they offer.

Who can apply, and the tests

Work and Income describes a child as "a single person under the age of 18 years" and says the child must have been ordinarily resident in New Zealand on the date of death. The funeral costs must not be met from the total assessable assets, and the parents' income must be below the limit for their situation. If the parents are separated, Work and Income does not require asset and income details from the estranged parent (Work and Income).

The income limits, which apply when a child has died, are annual and before tax. You must be under:

Your situation	Annual income (before tax) must be under
Single, 16 to 17, no other children	$33,518.68
Single, 18 or older, no other children	$38,522.12
In a relationship (with or without other children)	$55,954.08
Single with one other child	$46,745.92
Single with two or more other children	$49,248.68

Source: Work and Income: Funeral Grant, page updated 24 June 2026, read 20 October 2026.

On assets, the first $2,351.46 of your assets is ignored, and the family home, family car, caravan or boat, furniture and possessions are not assessed where the deceased was a child (Work and Income: definition of assets). Cash assets such as bank accounts and life insurance proceeds are counted. The grant pays the lesser of $2,697.43 or the unmet balance of reasonable expenses. Our general funeral grant guide covers the full list of eligible expenses, which includes the funeral director, casket, burial or cremation fees, a celebrant and flowers.

What to bring

Work and Income asks for the application form, confirmation of the death, an itemised funeral account (with a receipt and bank details if you have paid), and proof of identity (Work and Income). We could not find a source naming a specific form or hospital document for a stillbirth, so ask the funeral director, the midwife or the hospital what they provide, and ask Work and Income whether it accepts it as confirmation. Work and Income says there is "no time limit on when a Funeral Grant application must be made", and the income limits and asset exemptions current on the date of death are used (Work and Income: payment).

What the costs can look like

Prices vary a lot by place and provider. These are published figures, not a quote, and they show why the total for a baby can be much lower than the FDANZ average of $11,700 for an adult cremation funeral with a service.

Where	What is published
Auckland Council	Cremation of a baby under 1: $0. Child 1 to 12: $410 (Auckland Council)
Nelson City Council	Infant plot: free. Infant burial: $400 (Nelson City Council)
Dunedin City Council	Cremation of a child under 10: $209.40 (Dunedin)
One Auckland funeral director (May 2026 list)	Professional fee for an infant or child: $800 to $4,770 (Dils)

These lines are written for babies, infants or young children; whether a council treats a stillborn baby the same way is a question for the council. Our guide to funeral costs for infants and children goes into more detail. We could not source a claim that hospitals arrange or pay for a baby's cremation or burial as a standard service, so ask your hospital team what they can help with.

Other help

ACC's funeral grant is for deaths from a covered injury (ACC), so it is unlikely to apply, but ask if you are unsure. If you cannot meet the cost after the grant, councils may help people with no means (Burial and Cremation Act 1964, s49); see funeral costs when an estate has no money.

If you are employed, the Holidays Act gives 3 days' bereavement leave for a stillbirth or miscarriage to the employee whose pregnancy ended, and to a partner or the other qualifying people; Employment NZ says the law is silent about proof (Employment NZ). See our bereavement leave guide.

Support

Sands New Zealand supports parents after the death of a baby, with local groups that offer "phone support, meetings or one-on-one support" and an online chat group for bereaved parents (Sands NZ). Our grief support guide lists more. Your midwife, GP or hospital team can also point you to local support.

If you are planning ahead for your own funeral costs

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Adviser's view

Work and Income says a Funeral Grant can be paid for a stillborn child, defined as a baby not alive when born who weighed at least 400 g or was born after the 20th week. Parents are income-tested, but the family home and car are not counted as assets. Councils publish much lower fees for babies and young children, so the total bill can be much smaller than for an adult funeral, though it depends on the provider.

Henry Smith, Financial Adviser (FSP1010699). General information, not personalised financial advice.

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Cite this page QuoteHub NZ (2026). Funeral Grant for a Stillborn Child NZ: Eligibility. www.quotehub.co.nz/guides/when-someone-dies/funeral-grant-stillborn-child-nz. Updated 2026-10-20.

References

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