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Phil Thomas
Senior Technical Support Consultant

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Bereavement Support Payments

Published  13 February 2025
   4 min read

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, civil partner or a cohabiting parent died in the last 21 months. This may be extended if the cause of death was confirmed more than 21 months after death.
  • The benefits must be claimed within 3 months of death to get the full amount. 
  • The spouse, civil partner or cohabiting parent 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.

Who is eligible for Bereavement Support Payments?

To be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment if their partner has died, the claimant needs to:

  • Be the husband, wife, civil partner or living with your partner as if you were married (cohabiting parent) of somebody who died on or after 6 April 2017.
  • Be below State Pension age to claim.

They'll be eligible if their spouse, civil partner or cohabiting parent either:

  • Paid National Insurance contributions in one tax year since 6 April 1975 during their working life.
  • Died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.

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

Living with your partner as if you were married

If you were living with your partner as if you were married, one of the following must apply at the time of your partner's death (unless you're applying for a backdated payment):

  • You were receiving Child Benefit for a child who lived with you.
  • You were informed by the Child Benefit Office that you were eligible for Child Benefit for a child who lived with you, even if you chose not to receive it.
  • You were pregnant.

If your partner was receiving or eligible for Child Benefit, you will need to make a new claim for Child Benefit in your name before you can apply for Bereavement Support Payment.

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

How much Bereavement Support Payments can someone get?

With children or pregnant when their spouse, civil partner or cohabiting parent 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 when their spouse, civil partner or cohabiting parent died

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

To receive the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments, the claimant must claim within 3 months of their partner's death.

If they claim between 3 and 12 months after their partner's death, they can receive the one-off payment and some of the monthly payments.

If they claim between 12 and 21 months after their partner's death, they will not receive the one-off payment but can still receive some monthly payments.

If more than 21 months have passed since your partner's death, you usually cannot receive any payments.

Do Bereavement Support Payments affect any 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

Disclaimer

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.