Bereavement Support Payments

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Bereavement Support Payments

What is bereavement support payment?

The bereavement support payment is there to provide financial support to people following the death of their partner. It has replaced other benefits, such as the “bereavement allowance”, which was previously known as the “widow’s pension”.

You can apply for the payment online, by phone or by post. But you need to act promptly.

It can be incredibly hard to think about things like this in the aftermath of your partner’s death. But in order to receive the full amount, you need to claim within three months.

While you will still get some money if you apply within 21 months, the longer you leave it, the less you will get.

Eligibility for bereavement support payment

The bereavement support payment was previously only available to those who were married or in a civil partnership, but in February 2023, the law was extended. The rules now include unmarried cohabiting parents.

This was a welcome change that was a long time coming – especially given so many children in Britain are now born outside of marriage.

There are several other eligibility requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for the payment.

You need to have been under the state pension age when your partner died. You also need to have been living in the UK – or a country that pays these benefits.

At the same time, there are also requirements for the deceased partner.

To qualify, your partner must have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in any tax year since 1975. He or she must also have died after April 6, 2017.

As there are other eligibility rules and criteria around when you need to apply – and how much you can receive – it’s important to explore what you are entitled to, to ensure you are not missing out.

If you are unsure if you qualify, you can still submit a claim to the DWP’s Bereavement Service. They will be able to tell you if you are eligible.

How to apply for bereavement support payment – how to make a claim

To receive the highest level of payment, you would normally need to make a claim within three months of your partner’s death. If you apply within 12 months, you’ll receive the lump sum, but for every month after this, you’ll receive one less of the monthly payments.

If you apply after 12 months, but sooner than 21 months after your partner died, then you can’t get the one-off payment, but you can still get some monthly payments. After 21 months, you usually receive nothing.

The exception to this is if you’re claiming backdated payments for an unmarried partner who died after April 2017, but where you “newly qualify” because of the rule change in February 2023. You can make a claim any time before November 9 this year. But note that you may get fewer monthly payments if you claim close to the deadline.

To apply, you can find a form on Gov.uk which you can complete online, or download and post. Alternatively, you can call the Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012. You can also pick up a form at your local JobCentre Plus.

Make sure you have the right information to hand, such as your National Insurance number and bank account details. You will also need your partner’s NI number, and the date they died.

Calculating bereavement support payment

The bereavement support payment is not means-tested, so your financial position has no impact on what you might get. You do not have to pay income tax on the money you receive.

The amount you can get will depend on things such as when you make your claim and your circumstances at the time.

There are two rates: the “higher” rate and the “standard” rate.

The most you can get is a £3,500 one-off payment, along with 18 monthly payments of £350 if you are pregnant, or entitled to child benefit at the time of your partner’s death.

The maximum in other cases will be the “standard” rate, which is a one-off payment of £2,500, followed by 18 monthly payments of £100.

If you are claiming for backdated payments, the most you can receive is nine monthly payments of £350 – and you must apply before November 9, 2024.

Additional financial support

You can find a full list of available financial support and benefits on offer when someone dies on Gov.uk.

FAQs

How much is bereavement payment support from DWP?

If you’re not responsible for a child under 20, the payment comes as a lump sum of £2,500 and 18 monthly payments of £100.

If you have a child under 20 for whom you’re receiving child benefit – or if you are pregnant – you could get £3,500, plus 18 monthly payments of £350.

How long does the bereavement support allowance last?

Depending on when you make your claim, you may be able to get an initial one-off lump sum payment, and then monthly payments for 18 months.

Can I claim bereavement support payment if I live outside of the UK?

To qualify for this payment, you need to be living in the UK – or another country that pays bereavement benefits. Your partner needs to have paid the requisite National Insurance contributions, and you need to have been under state pension age when they died.

Is bereavement support payment taxable?

No. These payments are not taxable, nor are they included in any means test. However, if you still have any of the lump sum left after a year, it may affect your benefit claims.