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Bereavement Support

Support through loss. And all that comes after. 

The loss of a loved one changes everything. As you carry the weight of grief, you're often asked to make important decisions, handle complex paperwork, and begin adjusting to a new reality, often before you're ready.

Your Wawanesa Group Benefits include Bereavement Support to help you and your family through it all, at no extra cost.

See what's included

Why is Bereavement Support included in my benefits?

93% of Canadians are affected by bereavement. Support should extend beyond financial protection.

Wawanesa goes further by helping Plan Members and their families navigate the emotional, financial, and administrative challenges that can feel overwhelming after a loss.

93%

of Canadians are affected by bereavement

90%

of managers report a noticeable impact on employee performance following a loss

54%

want access to grief counselling

45%

want loss-specific support and guidance

Sources: Canadian Grief Alliance, Center for Creative Leadership

For Plan Sponsors:

Bereavement is one of the most common life events your Plan Members will face and one that directly impacts wellbeing, focus, and productivity. This support addresses a real need and strengthens your existing coverage at no additional cost.

Bereavement Support Toolkit

What does Bereavement Support include?

Guided support. Real people. One step at a time.

Bereavement Support goes beyond access to resources. It provides guided support built around your situation, with a personalized plan and help that moves at your pace.

Features

Two paths to support based on your situation.

Get support at the time of a group life insurance claim, or anytime through your Wawanesa Employee Assistance Program (EAP), whenever you need it.

Life Bereavement Support Benefit

When a covered family member passes away and a life insurance claim is filed, you and your family are connected to Bereavement Support as part of the claims process.

What's included:

  1. Access to Solace, a digital platform to help you navigate the logistical, emotional, and administrative tasks that follow loss.
  2. Up to 6 hours of professional counselling for emotional support.
  3. Up to 3 hours of financial guidanceto help with estate-related and financial matters.

Who is eligible:

Eligibility applies when the deceased person was insured under an eligible Wawanesa Group Life Insurance plan. Eligible family members may include the surviving Plan Member, a Dependent Spouse, and covered Dependent Children.

Solace users must be aged 18 or older.

How to access:

There is nothing you need to do in advance. When a group life insurance claim is submitted, your Wawanesa Claims team will provide the information and next steps needed to access Bereavement Support.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Bereavement Support

Not every loss is connected to an insurance claim. If you're grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or extended family member, you can access Bereavement Support through your Wawanesa Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What's included:

  1. Access to Solace, a digital platform to help you navigate the logistical, emotional, and administrative tasks that follow loss.
  2. Connection to existing EAP counselling and financial support.
  3. No life insurance claim required. Support is available when you need it.

Who is eligible:

Covered Plan Members and Dependents in groups with Wawanesa EAP coverage.

How to access:

Log in to Group Benefits Online to access your Wawanesa EAP services, including Solace. If you're unsure about your coverage, please contact your Plan Administrator.

What kind of help can I get after a loss?

Help with the things that feel overwhelming.

After a loss, the to-do list can feel endless. You shouldn't have to figure it all out alone. Here's what your Bereavement Support covers.

Administrative Guidance

Step-by-step guidance and trusted resources to help you manage the practical tasks after a loss:

  • Estate and probate
  • Closing accounts and subscriptions
  • Funeral planning
  • Household tasks
  • Government forms
  • Benefits and entitlements

Emotional Support

Compassionate guidance and trusted resources to help you cope with grief at your own pace:

  • 1:1 grief counselling
  • Coping strategies
  • Guided meditations
  • Journalling tools
  • Connection to local support groups
  • Support for the whole family

Financial Guidance

Clear guidance and trusted resources to help you navigate the financial matters that follow a loss:

  • Estate and probate
  • Understanding entitlements
  • Financial planning
  • Accounts and assets
  • Help with next steps

You don't have to go through this alone.

When you're ready, support is available.

Life Bereavement Support Benefit

Access Life claim information

Employee Assistance Program Bereavement Support

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Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about Bereavement Support

What kind of Bereavement Support is included in Wawanesa group benefits?

Bereavement Support is included in your Wawanesa group benefits to help you and your family after the loss of a loved one.

Depending on your situation, support may include:

  • Grief counselling,
  • Financial guidance,
  • Access to Solace, a digital platform that helps individuals navigate the logistical, emotional, and administrative tasks that follow loss, including a personalized care plan and dedicated care manager.
Is there a cost for Bereavement Support?

No. Bereavement Support is included in your Wawanesa group benefits at no additional cost to you or your family. A set number of counselling hours are available as part of the Bereavement Support program. If additional support is needed beyond the included hours, fees may apply. These additional costs may be eligible for reimbursement under the group benefits plan, depending on coverage.

Who is eligible for Bereavement Support?

Eligibility depends on how you access support.

Life Bereavement Support Benefit: Available to the surviving Plan Member, Dependent Spouse, and covered Dependent Children when the person who passed away was insured under an eligible Wawanesa Group Life insurance plan.

EAP Bereavement Support: Available to covered Plan Members and Dependents in groups with Wawanesa EAP coverage.

Note: Solace is available to users aged 18 and older.

Do I need to file a life insurance claim to get help?

It depends on how you access support. Life Bereavement Support is available following an eligible life insurance claim.

If your group benefits plan includes Wawanesa’s EAP, you can access Solace at any time—no claim required—alongside the counselling, financial guidance, and other support already available through your Wawanesa EAP.

How do I get started with Bereavement Support?

How you get started depends on your coverage:

If you are submitting a Life Insurance claim:
Bereavement Support is included as part of the claims process. Eligible family members are guided to the GreenShield+ platform, where they can:

  • Register for counselling and financial support
  • Access services through a simple, digital experience

Solace is accessed separately through the mobile app.

If you have Wawanesa EAP coverage:
You can access Bereavement Support anytime by logging in to Group Benefits Online to access your Wawanesa Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

What is Solace and how does it work?

Solace is a digital Bereavement Support platform that provides structured, personalized guidance to help individuals navigate the legal, administrative, and estate-related tasks following a loss, while also supporting the emotional realities of grief.

Solace is accessed through a mobile app, providing members with convenient, on-the-go support.

Solace is powered by GreenShield, a trusted Canadian partner. Wawanesa does not have access to the personal information you share in Solace.

What types of loss are supported through Solace?

Solace is designed to help members navigate many types of loss, including the passing of an immediate family member (such as a parent, spouse, or adult child), a relative, or a close friend, especially when the member is responsible for managing practical matters like an estate.

While the service supports a wide range of loss experiences, some situations may be better supported through other resources. These include the loss of a young child or infant (such as miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss), losses involving individuals residing outside of Canada, and non-death-related losses, such as estrangement or the loss of a pet or property.

What if I'm not ready to use the support right away?

That’s okay. You can access Bereavement Support whenever you’re ready—whether that’s right away or later on.

Bereavement Support services, including Solace, are provided by GreenShield, a third-party partner. Services are available in English and French. Wawanesa does not access or store personal information shared through these services. For more information on how Solace handles personal information, please refer to their Privacy Policy. Wawanesa does not guarantee the continuation, quality, or availability of these services and reserves the right to change or discontinue these services at any time with reasonable notice.