Bereavement Support Payment

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months. You must claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you’ll get fewer monthly payments. Bereavement Support Payment has replaced Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow’s Pension), Bereavement Payment, and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.

You’ll get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments. There are 2 rates.

     First payment - Monthly payment

Higher rate: £3,500 - £350 Lower rate: £2,500 - £100

If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you’ll get the higher rate. If you do not get Child Benefit, you’ll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.

You could be eligible if your partner either: -paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year since 6 April 1975. -died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.

When they died you must have been: -under State Pension age. -living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits.

You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you’re in prison.