Municipal & City Funding
Click on one of the regions below for region-specific information.
Subsidized Funeral & Burial Assistance: Niagara Region provides financial assistance for costs related to a funeral and cremation or burial.
ELIGIBILITY
- Niagara residents who are in receipt of either Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.
- Lower income Niagara residents. For example, residents with earnings or in receipt of Employment Insurance, Workplace Safety Insurance Benefits, Ontario Student Assistance Plan, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security and other government or private support pensions.
An application to determine eligibility must be processed by Niagara Region before funeral arrangements are finalized.
HOW TO APPLY
Contact eco to guide you through the process from the beginning and to educate you on your options or, for more information, Contact Niagara Region Community Services, Discretionary Benefits Program at 905.641.9960.
Support Programs - Funerals, Burials & Cremations: The City of Hamilton provides financial assistance on behalf of deceased Hamilton residents who do not have sufficient funds in their estate to fully cover the cost of a basic funeral, burial and/or cremation.
STANDARDS
- Contact can be made with the Special Supports Program immediately following a death. Special Supports will not accept an application to pre-approve arrangements for a person which is not deceased.
- Contact can be made by next of kin, any relative or bona fide friend who has assumed responsibility for the funeral arrangement.
- If the deceased has no family or friends, arrangements can be made by a professional associated with the person (e.g. nursing home administrator, representative of a hospital, etc.). The Police and/or the Hospital will notify the Regional Supervising Coroner if a body is unclaimed despite reasonable efforts to locate a potential claimant. The Regional Supervising Coroner will issue a written order to the Special Supports, under the Anatomy Act, to proceed with funeral arrangements.
- In cases where the funeral and burial has already occurred prior to an application with Special Supports, funeral assistance will not be provided.
ELIGIBILITY
- Eligibility for assistance is based on the deceased’s assets, life insurance, property, etc.
- If the deceased was not single, the family unit’s assets will be considered.
- If the deceased is a minor child, the application will be based on the parent(s)/legal guardian’s eligibility.
- If the assets or life insurance policy exceed the allowable asset level for the family size, assistance will be refused.
Once eligibility has been determined and details of the type of service and burial/cremation is confirmed, the Special Supports Program will approval the funding for the funeral/burial. City of Hamilton, Special Supports must authorize services before a contract is signed by next of kin, any relative or bona fide friend with a funeral home or cemetery. Special Supports will not reimburse the cost of a funeral, burial or cremation after a contract is signed.
HOW TO APPLY
Contact eco first to explain your options or, contact City of Hamilton Special Supports 905.546.2590.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Please contact eco at 1.800.326.1324 to receive local financial funding options, or if the deceased was in receipt of Ontario Works Benefits in Halton Region call the Halton Region:
Halton Region
1151 Bronte Road
Oakville, ON L6M 3L1
Tel.: Dial 311 or 905.825.6000
Toll Free: 1.866.442.5866
Funeral Assistance
Please contact eco at 1.800.326.1324 to receive local financial funding options or if the deceased was in receipt of Ontario Works Benefits in Peel Region call:
Peel Region
Tel.: 905.793.9200
Toll Free: at 1.800.327.5379
TTY: 905.696.8196
Help with funeral costs: Employment and Social Services provides help on behalf of deceased city residents who do not have enough funds in their estate to fully cover funeral costs. The deceased person does not have to have been in receipt of Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits at the time of death to be eligible.
Help with funeral costs can include:
- Funeral services - Employment and Social Services will pay for the transfer of the body for cremation, burial, or for a traditional funeral service.
- Burial services - Employment and Social Services will purchase a burial lot. If the deceased person owned a lot, Employment and Social Services will pay to open and close the grave.
- Cremation services - Employment and Social Services will pay for cremation, including a standard urn. Employment and Social Services also covers the cost of scattering the remains in a cemetery or a burial in a pre-owned plot.
To determine eligibility, a caseworker will consider the financial situation of the deceased person and his/her spouse at the time of death. This includes, for example, looking at assets, income, RRSPs and life insurance.
HOW TO APPLY
- Call eco direct at 1.800.eco.1324 for immediate information or:
- If the deceased person was in receipt of Ontario Works or ODSP, you can go directly to the funeral home of your choice. However, before making the funeral arrangements you must advise the Funeral Director that the deceased was in receipt of social assistance. The Funeral Director will contact Employment and Social Services to authorize payment.
- If the deceased person was not in receipt of Ontario Works or ODSP, you can apply at an Employment and Social Services office. Contact an office to book an appointment and find out what information you need to make a funeral application.
IMPORTANT…
Employment and Social Services:
must authorize services before you sign a contract with a funeral home or cemetery
prefers that the executor/executrix start the funeral arrangements
(If there is no executor/executrix, the person applying for this help should be the person making the arrangements at the funeral home.)
is entitled to recover the funeral costs from all sources available to the deceased person
is open between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; if the death occurs after hours or on a weekend/holiday, you must advise the Funeral Director that you plan to apply for financial help from Employment and Social Services
For more information, call Funeral Services at 416-392-1666 or contact an Employment and Social Services Office by searching here http://app.toronto.ca/WAYSOfficeLocator/index.jsp?lang=en_CA&home=/WAYSSelect/locator.jsp
Funeral Support: Please contact eco at 1.800.326.1324 for further information or if the deceased was in receipt of Social Services please contact:
City of Kitchener
PO Box 1118,
200 King Street West
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Tel.: 519.741.2345
TTY: 1.866.969.9994
Funeral Support: Please contact eco at 1.800.326.1324 for further information or if the deceased was in receipt of Social Services please contact:
Central Intake
Tel.: 905.428.8982
Toll-free: 1.877.678.6333
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 4 pm
