Some people may receive a lump sum when a person dies as a result of a criminal offence or voluntary assistance. The lump sum is established after the death has been pronounced or presumed.
The death must be a consequence of the criminal offence or voluntary assistance in order for the lump sum to be paid. The following people may apply:
- a parent of a deceased minor child or a person who has parental authority over a deceased minor child
- a parent of a deceased adult child who does not have a partner or a dependent child
- a parent of a deceased adult child who has a partner or a child, if the parent provided for more than 50% of the deceased person’s needs
- a child of a deceased parent or person who has parental authority
- the deceased person’s partner
- a deceased person’s dependant
A lump sum is granted based on the following situations:
- Lump sum in the event of death
- Lump sum established based on the foreseeable consequences the victim would have suffered, when the death occurs more than 12 months after the criminal offence
To learn more about this financial assistance, you can watch the video clip produced by the Ministère de la Justice “Lump sum in the event of death” (French only) in 2021.
This lump sum is paid to the parents or the holders of parental authority over a minor child who died as a result of the criminal offence.
The parents or holders of parental authority may also receive a lump sum if an adult child died as a result of a criminal offence and at the time of death:
- the adult child did not have a partner or children
- the adult child had a partner or a child and the parents provided for more than 50% of their needs
Assessment criteria
The death must be a consequence of the criminal offence.
The person who submits the application must be either:
- the parent of a deceased minor child
- the person who has parental authority over a deceased minor child
No lump sum is paid to a parent or a person who has parental authority who contributed to the child’s death.
Amount of the lump sum
- $67,586 that may be shared between both parents of the minor child on January 1, 2024
- $67,586 that may be shared between both parents on January 1, 2024 if they provide for more than 50% of the needs of a dependent adult child or if the child dies without a partner and without children
At the time of the victim’s death
The other parent receives the lump sum if one of the parents:
- is deceased
- has been deprived of their parental authority
- abandoned the victim when they were a minor
- cannot obtain financial assistance under the Act
- was found responsible for their child’s homicide
If both parents are deceased, the amount is paid to the victim’s estate unless the State collects the property.
Indexation
This amount is indexed on January 1 of each year.
Terms of payment
The death certificate is required by IVAC.
The total amount of the lump sum can be paid in a single instalment or divided into 12 or 24 instalments. In addition, interest is paid when a person chooses to receive the lump sum in several instalments.
The death of a victim or rescuer as a result of a criminal offence entitles the spouse to receive a lump sum death benefit.
Assessment criteria
The person must meet the definition of spouse provided for in the Act to assist persons who are victims of criminal offences and to facilitate their recovery at the time of the death.
Amount/Percentage
The maximum allowable gross income is $94,000.
The amount of the lump sum may not be less than $84,324 or more than $470,000.
The lump sum death benefit paid to the spouse is established based on the deceased victim’s or deceased rescuer’s gross income multiplied by the factor provided for in Schedule III of the Regulation and which is determined based on the victim’s or rescuer’s age.
For a disabled spouse, the lump sum benefit is established based on the deceased victim’s or deceased rescuer’s gross income multiplied by the factor provided for in Schedule IV of the Regulation.
Indexation
This amount is indexed on January 1 of each year.
Terms of payment
The death certificate is required by IVAC.
The total amount of the lump sum can be paid in a single instalment or divided into 12 or 24 instalments. In addition, interest is paid when a person chooses to receive the lump sum in several instalments.
The children and dependants of a victim who died as a result of a criminal offence or a rescuer who died as a result of providing voluntary assistance may receive a lump sum death benefit.
Note that in the case of a rescuer, only minor children and dependants are eligible for this lump sum.
Assessment criteria
The application must be made for the children and dependants of the victim or rescuer.
Amount/Percentage
The amount of the lump sum is based on the victim’s age at the time of death. The amount awarded varies between a maximum of $73,787 and a minimum of $40,051.
If a child or dependant is disabled at the time of death, they are entitled to an additional lump sum benefit of $34,782.
If the victim did not have a partner, the children or dependants are entitled to the difference between the lump sum that would have been paid to the partner and the lump sum paid to them.
This difference is in addition to their own lump sum death benefit.
If more than one person is entitled to this amount, the sum of the differences is divided equally between them.
Indexation
This amount is indexed on January 1 of each year.
Terms of payment
The death certificate is required by IVAC.
The total amount of the lump sum can be paid in a single instalment or divided into 12 or 24 instalments. In addition, interest is paid when a person chooses to receive the lump sum in several instalments.