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Bereavement support payments

Bereavement Support Payment replaced Bereavement Allowance, Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Payment. The benefit is paid at one of two rates depending on whether the claimant is responsible for children.
Key facts
  • May be able to claim if a spouse or civil partner died in the last 21 months.
  • The benefits must be claimed within 3 months of death to get the full amount.
  • The spouse or civil partner must be below State Pension Age to claim.
  • A lump sum is paid followed by monthly payments for up to 18 months.
  • Payments may be higher if there are children.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment the claimant needs to be the husband, wife or civil partner of somebody who died on or after 6 April 2017. The claimant must be below state pension age to claim. They will be eligible if their spouse or civil partner either:

  • paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks during their working life
  • died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work

When the deceased spouse or civil partner died, the claimant must be:

It is not possible to claim Bereavement Support Payment from prison.

How much can be claimed?

If a claim is made within 3 months of the death of the spouse or civil partner the maximum bereavement benefits are:

With children or pregnant when their spouse of civil partner died

Benefit Amount paid
One-off payment £3,500 
Monthly payment up to 18 months £350 x 18 months = £6,300
Total £9,800

 Without children

Benefit Amount paid
One-off payment £2,500 
Monthly payment up to 18 months £100 x 18 months = £1,800
Total £4,300

Somebody who is not married or in a civil partnership is not eligible for bereavement support payments.

Other benefits

Bereavement Support Payment will not affect any other state benefits for a year after the first payment. After a year, any payment left over could affect the amount of other state benefits.

Claimants must tell their benefits office once they start getting Bereavement Support Payments.

Further information

Note

The information provided is based on our current understanding of the relevant legislation and regulations and may be subject to alteration as a result of changes in legislation or practice. Also it may not reflect the options available under a specific product which may not be as wide as legislations and regulations allow. All references to taxation are based on our understanding of current taxation law and practice and may be affected by future changes in legislation and the individual circumstances of the investor.

 

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The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. The firm is on the Financial Services Register, registration number 117672. It provides life assurance and pensions. Registered in England and Wales number 99064. Registered office: 55 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0RL.