Bereavement Support Payment

Printable version

1. How it works

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner has died. It has replaced the following benefits:

  • Widowed Parent바카라 사이트檚 Allowance - if you already get this, your payments will continue until you바카라 사이트檙e no longer eligible
  • Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow바카라 사이트檚 Pension)
  • Bereavement Payment

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and in an easy read format.

2. Eligibility

Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested. This means what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.

When your partner died, you must have been:

Your partner must have either:

You can still make a claim if you바카라 사이트檙e not sure whether your partner paid enough National Insurance contributions. The Bereavement Service will let you know.

You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you바카라 사이트檙e in prison.

When you need to make your claim

You usually need to make a claim within 21 months of your partner바카라 사이트檚 death.

If it바카라 사이트檚 been over 21 months since your partner바카라 사이트檚 death, you may still be able to make a claim if their cause of death was only recently confirmed. Call the Bereavement Service helpline for help.

How soon you make your claim can also affect how much money you바카라 사이트檒l get. You usually need to make a claim within 3 months of your partner바카라 사이트檚 death to get the full amount of payments.

If your partner died before 6 April 2017, you may be able to get Widowed Parent바카라 사이트檚 Allowance instead.

If you were living with your partner as if you were married

Unless you바카라 사이트檙e applying for a backdated payment, one of the following must have applied when your partner died:

  • you were getting Child Benefit for a child that lived with you
  • you were told by the Child Benefit Office that you were entitled to Child Benefit for a child that lived with you, even if you chose not to get it
  • you were pregnant

If your partner was getting or entitled to Child Benefit instead, you바카라 사이트檒l need to make a new claim for Child Benefit in your name before you can apply for Bereavement Support Payment.

3. What you'll get

The amount of Bereavement Support Payment you can get will depend on:

  • your relationship to the person who died
  • when you make your claim
  • when you reach State Pension age

Your payments will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

Your relationship to the person who died

If you were married or in a registered civil partnership

You바카라 사이트檒l get the higher rate if one of the following applied when your partner died:

  • you were getting Child Benefit for a child that lived with you
  • you were told by the Child Benefit Office that you were entitled to Child Benefit for a child that lived with you
  • you were pregnant

The most you can get is:

  • a one-off payment of 拢3,500
  • 18 monthly payments of 拢350

If you바카라 사이트檙e not eligible for the higher rate, you바카라 사이트檒l get the lower rate instead.

The most you can get is:

  • a one-off payment of 拢2,500
  • 18 monthly payments of 拢100

If you were living together as if you were married

The most you can get is:

  • a one-off payment of 拢3,500
  • 18 monthly payments of 拢350

When you make your claim

You must claim within 3 months of your partner바카라 사이트檚 death to get the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments.

If it바카라 사이트檚 been over 3 months but fewer than 12 months since your partner바카라 사이트檚 death, you can get the one-off payment but only some of the monthly payments.

If it바카라 사이트檚 been over 12 months but fewer than 21 months since your partner바카라 사이트檚 death, you cannot get the one-off payment but you can still get some monthly payments.

If it바카라 사이트檚 been over 21 months since your partner바카라 사이트檚 death, you usually cannot get any payments.

When you reach State Pension age

If you reach State Pension age within 18 months of your partner바카라 사이트檚 death, you may get fewer monthly payments.

If you get benefits

Bereavement Support Payment will not affect your benefits for a year after your first payment. After a year, money you have left from your first payment could affect the amount you get if you renew or make a claim for another benefit.

You must tell your benefits office (for example, ) when you start getting Bereavement Support Payment.

4. How to claim

You can apply for Bereavement Support Payment online, by telephone or by post.

To apply, you바카라 사이트檒l need:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your bank or building society account details
  • the date your partner died
  • your partner바카라 사이트檚 National Insurance number

Apply online

Apply by phone

Bereavement Service helpline
Telephone: 0800 151 2012
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453

Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language: 0800 731 0456

(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 151 2012

British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

If you live in Northern Ireland, there바카라 사이트檚 a by phone.

Apply by post

To get a claim form, you can either:

Send it to the address on the form.

If you live in Northern Ireland, there바카라 사이트檚 a by post.

If you바카라 사이트檙e abroad

Call the International Pension Centre to apply.

International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 206 9390
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges