Youpla Support Program Information for support services and government agencies
Let's have a yarn about the Youpla Support Program
Beware of potential scams relating to the Youpla Support Program. If you're worried that someone pretending to be from the Youpla Support Program called you, hang up and call Services Australia on 1800 136 380. They can check if it was really them who called.
The government will never ask you for money for the Youpla Support Program. You can find out more about identifying and reporting scams at scamwatch.gov.au.
What is the Youpla Support Program?
The Youpla Group sold funeral funds to First Nations people. Youpla Group was also known as the Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund, or ACBF for short.
It went broke in 2022, leaving lots of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people unable to pay for Sorry Business.
The Government has set up the Youpla Support Program to support those who were affected. The Youpla Support Program is open until 30 June 2026.
If you know someone who paid ACBF/Youpla Group on or any time after 1 August 2015 for a funeral fund (also called funeral policy or plan), they could be eligible for a payment to help with Sorry Business.
The payment could be just over half the money they paid to ACBF/Youpla (60%), or the total amount ACBF/Youpla would have paid them under the policy, whichever is lower.
If the payment is more than $1,000, they will be given a choice between putting the payment into a funeral bond, which can be used to pay for Sorry Business, or receiving it as a lump sum payment directly into their bank account. They'll be offered access to financial counselling under the Program to help them choose the option that's best for them.
Funeral Bond
The Government has chosen a company called Lifeplan, part of the Australian Unity Group, to provide funeral bonds for the Youpla Support Program.
Lifeplan have rules to make sure they do the right thing. Lifeplan has a phone number for people to call if they want to know more about the Youpla Support Program Funeral Bond - 1800 233 343.
Financial Counselling
The Government has chosen Mob Strong, part of the Financial Rights Legal Centre, to do the financial counselling for the Youpla Support Program.
Watch a short video about the Youpla Support Program
Who is eligible?
Anyone who paid for a Youpla or ACBF funeral fund on or after 1 August 2015, and who has not received money back through another government Program or Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) determination, could be eligible for a payment through the Youpla Support Program.
They won't need to provide Services Australia with any information or evidence, the Government will determine eligibility using information from the Youpla Group and share this with Services Australia.
If a former Youpla member is told that they're not eligible, but they think they are, they can ask Services Australia to refer their case to the NIAA. They will need to give the NIAA evidence that they're eligible. This could include:
- A copy of their Youpla or ACBF funeral fund policy, like the policy document.
- A copy of a bank statement or Centrepay statement showing that they paid Youpla or ACBF.
What if the person who paid for the policy has passed away?
If the person who paid for the Youpla policy (the "Payer") has passed away, the person whose funeral was covered by the policy can claim the payment. We call this person a "Member". Sometimes the Payer and the Member are the same person.
If both the Payer and the Member have passed away, the person who would have received the money from ACBF/Youpla to pay for Sorry Business can claim the payment. We call this person a "Beneficiary".
What is the resolution payment?
The resolution payment is 60% of the money the former Youpla member paid to ACBF/Youpla, up to the benefit limit.
Let's look at some examples
Example 1
Charlie paid $10,000 for a Youpla funeral fund for himself from 2010-2016.
The benefit limit was $8,000.
This is the money Youpla was meant to pay if Charlie passed away. Charlie has not received any money from Youpla, or from the Government for this policy.
The Government figures out that 60% of what Charlie paid for his Youpla Group fund is:
$10,000 x 0.6 (or 60%) = $6,000
Charlie's benefit limit is more than this, so Charlie's resolution payment is $6,000
Example 2
Beth paid $10,000 for a Youpla funeral fund for herself from 2002-2020.
The benefit limit was $4,000.
This is the money Youpla was meant to pay if Beth passed away. Beth has not received any money from Youpla, or from the Government for this policy.
The Government figures out that 60% of what Beth paid for her Youpla Group fund is:
$10,000 x 0.6 (or 60%) = $6,000.
Beth's benefit limit is less than this, so Beth's resolution payment is $4,000
Lump sum payment or funeral bond
A lump sum payment is when the Youpla Support Program deposits the money straight into the former Youpla member's bank account.
A funeral bond is like a savings account – the payment that goes into a funeral bond can only be used for funeral expenses.
If they are eligible for $1,000 or more, they can yarn with a financial counselling service under the Program to help them understand which option might be best for them.
If the payment is less than $1,000, they'll get the payment as a lump sum.
What is the process to get a resolution payment?
If you know someone who paid ACBF/Youpla from 1 August 2015 onwards, and they have not yet got a payment, encourage them to call Services Australia on 1800 136 380 or visit your local Service Centre.
Resources
As a trusted support service, former Youpla members may ask you questions about the Youpla Support Program. Here are some resources to help you answer common questions you may be asked, or to share with former Youpla members to raise awareness of the Program.
Resources for support services
- Guide: A guide to supporting mob with the Youpla Support Program - PDF 3.22 MB | DOCX 397 KB
Resources to help former Youpla members understand the program
- Guide: A guide to understanding the Youpla Support Program for former Youpla members - PDF 687 KB | DOCX 396 KB
- A3 Posters:
- Poster: Did you miss out on money for Sorry Business from ACBF/Youpla? - PDF 155 KB
- Poster: Let's yarn about the Youpla Support Program - PDF 186 KB
- Poster: Have you been affected by ACBF/Youpla going broke? - PDF 312 KB
- Poster: Supporting mob with the ACBF/Youpla collapse - PDF 163 KB
- Trifold brochure: Understanding Eligibility - PDF 255.71 KB | DOCX 676.22 KB
- Trifold brochure: Understanding the Process - PDF 266 KB | DOCX 371 KB
- Factsheet: I’m eligible for a payment through the Youpla Support Program, now what? - PDF 235 KB | DOCX 337 KB
Resources to raise awareness of the program
These are primarily digital resources that you can use to communicate about the Youpla Support Program with your audiences.
Grant Opportunity Guidelines
- Indigenous Advancement Strategy: Youpla Support Program Grant Opportunity Guidelines - PDF 506 KB | DOCX 455 KB
Get help
As a trusted support service, former Youpla members may ask you questions about the Youpla Support Program, if you're not sure about the answer you can call Services Australia on 1800 136 380.
If you speak to someone who needs to pay for Sorry Business now, they can call Services Australia on 1800 136 380 to get the process started.