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Resources & Frequently Asked Questions
Resources

Resources & Commonly Asked Questions

What help does WorkSafeBC give after a work-related death?

Funeral, pension and counselling benefits for families when a death is related to work.

Updated September 29, 2026

If someone dies because of a workplace accident or an occupational disease, or the death is related to a claim WorkSafeBC has already accepted, WorkSafeBC may be able to pay benefits to the family.

What may be available

  • Funeral costs. Under the Workers Compensation Act, WorkSafeBC must pay an amount toward funeral and related expenses, set by its policies. The employer must pay to transport the person who died to the nearest funeral home.
  • A monthly pension for a surviving spouse, based on the worker's earnings. It continues for the spouse's lifetime.
  • A monthly benefit for each dependent child up to age 19. It may continue to age 25 if the child regularly attends post-secondary school.
  • Counselling: grief and vocational counselling for a surviving spouse, and grief counselling for dependent children.

The Act also provides a lump-sum payment to a dependent spouse. Like other amounts in the Act, it is adjusted each year for the cost of living.

If a family member is dying of a work-related disease, WorkSafeBC may be able to provide medical equipment, home care, and separation and loss counselling.

How to apply

Call WorkSafeBC's Claims Call Centre and ask to speak with the sensitive claims coordinator, who will explain the process and answer your questions.

  • Lower Mainland: 604-231-8888
  • Toll-free in Canada: 1-888-967-5377
  • Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Have this information about your family member ready:

  • full name
  • date of birth
  • date of death
  • Social Insurance Number, if you have it
  • employer's name

A WorkSafeBC case manager will also contact you about financial help and other benefits. If there is an investigation into the accident, someone from WorkSafeBC's Family and Critical Response Unit will contact you to offer help through that process.

BC's After a Death checklist also says WorkSafeBC needs to be notified if the person who died had an active claim. You will need an uncertified copy of the death certificate.

More information is on WorkSafeBC's page, Services for families coping with a work-related death.

If you have questions after a work-related death, contact us and we'll help where we can.