Save Sorry Business Coalition urges Federal Government to promote scheme to communities and continue consultation on fair and enduring resolution
Today, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, and Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services, Stephen Jones, officially opened the Youpla Group Funeral Benefits Program (Program) and encouraged eligible families to apply for emergency financial assistance from Wednesday 7 September.
The Program will provide financial assistance for funerals and Sorry Business to families left without funeral insurance due to the collapse of Youpla (formerly known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund). It is not a compensation scheme.
The Federal government estimates that around 500 families may be eligible for this assistance. To be eligible, a person with an active policy as of 1 April 2020 must have passed away on or after that date. This comprises only a small proportion of the 30,000 First Nations people who have been harmed.
The Federal Government is yet to announce its response for the remaining 30,000 people. First Nations advocates and supporters of the Save Sorry Business Coalition look forward to further consultation on an enduring resolution for all those who have been affected.
Important information
The program aims to honour Youpla policies that were active up until 1 April 2020
People are eligible to make an application if the policyholder passed away after 1 April 2020
The payment amount will be the same as the amount the person would have received under the ACBF policy (the benefit amount)
Payments will be made within two weeks of an eligible application being approved
People applying will need to provide the name of the policyholder who has passed away, their date of birth, their date of passing and photos or documents to support their application
The Program will continue to be available to families until 30 November 2023
