What if there’s money out there—right now—meant for you or your family, just sitting unclaimed? It may sound surprising, but millions of dollars in funeral insurance and prepaid funeral benefits go unclaimed every year in Australia. In many cases, the family simply didn’t know the policy existed, didn’t know where to look, or thought it was lost forever.
If you’ve recently lost a loved one—or are trying to organise your family’s affairs—there’s a good chance you could be entitled to funds that were set aside to help with funeral costs.
The good news? eziFunerals is here to help you find it.
Why Funeral Insurance and Prepaid Funeral Funds Go Missing
Many Australians take out funeral insurance or prepaid funeral plans with the best of intentions: to ease the financial burden on their family when the time comes. But in reality, these well-meaning steps can go unnoticed or forgotten.
Here’s why funeral funds often go unclaimed:
- Lack of awareness: The deceased may never have told anyone they had funeral insurance.
- Missing paperwork: Policies may be lost, buried in storage, or discarded during a move.
- No central registry: Australia doesn’t have a unified database for funeral insurance or prepaid funeral plans.
- Insurer changes: Mergers, closures, or rebranding can make it hard to track down providers.
The result? Beneficiaries may never know a policy existed—or how to claim it.
The High Cost of Missing Out
The average cost of a funeral in Australia ranges from $4,000 to $15,000, depending on the type of service. Funeral insurance or prepaid plans are often intended to cover most or all of this cost.
When these funds go unclaimed, grieving families are left to pay out of pocket—sometimes taking on unexpected debt.
But you don’t have to let that happen. You may already have access to money that’s been set aside for this very purpose.
Start Your Search with eziFunerals
At eziFunerals, we understand how confusing and emotional this process can be. That’s why we offer a funeral insurance tracing service that helps families locate missing policies and recover unclaimed funeral funds.
Whether you’re actively organising a funeral or managing a deceased estate, we make it easy to:
- Trace funeral insurance and prepaid funeral plans
- Connect with insurance providers and funeral fund managers
- Get support throughout the claims process
Our tools and support are designed to give you clarity, confidence, and peace of mind—when you need it most.
Signs There Might Be a Funeral Policy You Didn’t Know About
Think there’s a chance your loved one might have had funeral insurance or prepaid for a funeral? Here are some common clues:
- Bank statements showing regular payments to an insurer or funeral fund
- Paperwork referring to “life insurance”, “funeral cover”, or “death benefits”
- Emails or letters from funeral directors or insurance companies
- Mention of funeral planning in a will, estate plan, or conversation
- Membership with a union, super fund, or organisation that included cover
If even one of these applies, it’s worth investigating further.
How to Begin Your Search for Missing Funeral Funds
We recommend starting with the following steps—and we’re here to help every step of the way.
1. Search Personal Documents
Look through personal files, email accounts, and paper documents. You might find:
- Policy certificates
- Letters from insurers
- Receipts or payment confirmations
- Names of insurance companies or funeral providers
2. Check Bank Transactions
Scan through the deceased’s bank or credit card statements for regular deductions or premium payments to insurers or funeral homes.
Even if the company name isn’t obvious, you may find transaction codes that point to a provider.
3. Contact Super Funds and Employers
Some superannuation funds and employers include death benefits or funeral cover in their services. Contact them and ask whether any entitlements are attached to the account.
4. Use eziFunerals’ Tracing Service
When you don’t know where to begin—or have no paperwork at all—our team can do the heavy lifting. eziFunerals contacts registered funeral fund managers on your behalf to help determine whether a plan exists for your loved one.
You’ll simply need to provide:
- The deceased person’s full name and basic information
- Any possible addresses or policy details (if available)
- Your own contact details to receive updates
If a match is found, the provider will reach out directly to you.
5. Check for Unclaimed Money Online
Government websites like Moneysmart and the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) may also help you find unclaimed money from lapsed or inactive policies.
What If a Policy Is Found?
If you we find a funeral insurance or prepaid plan, we will contact you and here’s what to do next:
- Contact the provider: Inform them of the death and request a claims form.
- Provide documentation: Typically, you’ll need to submit a death certificate, proof of identity, and relationship to the deceased.
- Claim the benefits: Once approved, the insurer will release the funds—usually within a few weeks.
In some cases, the funds may be paid directly to the funeral home to cover costs already incurred.
Why eziFunerals Is the Trusted Name in Funeral Planning
eziFunerals isn’t just another comparison site—we’re Australia’s leading funeral planning platform, created to empower families during life’s most difficult times.
When it comes to lost funeral insurance and unclaimed entitlements, we offer:
- Free guides and resources
- A dedicated tracing service
- Access to trusted funeral directors
- Tools to compare funeral costs and services
Our mission is simple: to help you save money, reduce stress, and ensure your loved one’s wishes are honoured.
Final Thoughts
Losing a loved one is hard enough—don’t let unclaimed funeral insurance add to the stress. If there’s even a chance your family is entitled to money, start your search today with eziFunerals.
You have nothing to lose—and potentially thousands of dollars to gain.
Begin your search for missing funeral insurance now
Visit www.ezifunerals.com.au to use our tracing service and access helpful resources.
Peter Erceg
Peter Erceg is the Owner and Founder of eziFunerals. He has had a long history within the funeral industry, and is a published author of ‘What Kind Of Funeral: A self help guide to planning a meaningful funeral’. Prior to eziFunerals, Peter worked in the public sector and health industry for more than 30 years. The views and opinions expressed on posts are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of eziFunerals and members.
