Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Youpla Support Program phone line, designed to support First Nations people impacted by the collapse of funeral insurance provider the Youpla Group, is open for incoming calls from today.
The Youpla Group, also known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund (ACBF), sold funeral insurance policies to First Nations people. When they collapsed in 2022, many people could no longer pay for funeral expenses and conduct Sorry Business.
$67 million in funding provided by the Government for resolution payments through the Youpla Support Program will help close to 14,000 people recover from financial loss and provide certainty to families. The program runs until 30 June 2026.
A payment through the program will be available for people who paid for an ACBF/Youpla funeral fund on or after 1 August 2015. The program will pay 60% of the amount paid for the policy, up to the total value of their policy.
If a payment is $1000 or more, recipients will be able to choose between a designated funeral bond to pay for Sorry Business, or a lump sum payment. Financial counselling will be available to help make the choice.
Eligible recipients will not need to apply or register, Services Australia will make contact by phone in coming weeks. Those who need to pay for Sorry Business urgently will be able to call Services Australia to get the process started earlier.
The initiative follows the interim Youpla Group Funeral Benefits Program, which closed on 30 June 2024 and allowed the families of former members to claim a grant to cover immediate funeral expenses.
