Eligibility
You will qualify for Bereavement Support Payment if:
- your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017
- you were under State Pension age when your spouse or civil partner died
- you were resident in the UK at the time of the death or live in a country where the UK has a relevant European Union or reciprocal agreement
- your spouse or civil partner had paid a minimum of 25 Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any single tax year during their working life
Effect on other benefits
Bereavement Support Payments will not affect other benefits you receive, however, in certain circumstances they may be treated as savings for the purposes of other benefits.
Payments
There are two rates of Bereavement Support Payment – ‘Standard rate’ and ‘Higher rate’. Payments may include an increased initial payment, followed by up to 18 smaller monthly payments.
All payments are tax free. Your age will not affect the amounts you receive providing you are below state pension age, and re-marrying or re-partnering will not affect your payments.
Higher rate
If you are entitled to Child Benefit for at least one dependent child or were pregnant at the date of your spouse or civil partner’s death, you may be entitled to an initial payment of £3,500 and up to 18 monthly payments of £350.
Standard rate
If you were not pregnant or have no dependent children, you may be entitled to an initial payment of £2,500 and up to 18 monthly payments of £100.
Claiming the full entitlement
You are only entitled to the increased initial payment if your claim is made within 12 months of the death. To be eligible for up to 18 monthly payments, your claim must be made within three months of the death.
You can claim up to 21 months after the death but your payments will be less.
Bereavement Support Payment will be paid directly into an account of your choice on a monthly basis.
How to claim
You can phone the Bereavement Service or download an application form below.
Financial help for a death before 6 April 2017
If your spouse or civil partner died before 6 April 2017, you cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment. Instead, you may be entitled to claim Widowed Parent's Allowance.