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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, 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.
Eligibility
From 9 February 2023, the government extended the eligibility criteria to cohabiting parents (those getting or entitled to child benefit or pregnant); helping thousands more grieving parents to access this support.
To be eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment the claimant needs to:
- Be the husband, wife, civil partner or 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 for at least 25 weeks 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:
- Under State Pension age.
- Living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits.
It is not possible to claim Bereavement Support Payment from prison.
How much can be claimed?
If death occurred after 9 February 2023, the claimant must claim within 3 to get the full amount of Bereavement Support Payment (lump sum and all 18 monthly payments). The claimant must claim within 12 months of the death to get the lump sum, and each monthly payment has a 3-month payment window.
If death occurred on or after 6 April 2017 but before 9 February 2023, and retrospective payments are due to the surviving co-habiting parent, the time limits are as follows:
- If the claim is received by 9 February 2024, the claimant will receive the full amount of Bereavement Support Payments that is due to them, irrespective of whether the claim is received within 12 months of the death.
- If the claim is received after 9 February 2024, the claimant will receive up to 3 backdated monthly payments, plus any remaining monthly payments that are due to them. No lump sum will be payable. The claim must be made within 21 months of 9 February 2023 (before 9 November 2025) for any Bereavement Support Payments to be payable.
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
| Benefit | Amount paid |
|---|---|
| One-off payment | £2,500 |
| Monthly payment up to 18 months | £100 x 18 months = £1,800 |
| Total | £4,300 |
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.