Who is entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment?

You are entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment if:

• your spouse or civil partner dies on or after 6 April 2017
• you are under pension age when your spouse or civil partner dies
• you meet the residence rules
• you meet the contribution condition

The Bereavement Support Payment replaced previous bereavement benefits (Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance) from 6 April 2017. If you were already receiving one of the bereavement benefits it replaced you will continue to receive your current benefit for the natural lifetime of the award, you will not be transferred over to the Bereavement Support Payment.

What is the contribution condition for a Bereavement Support Payment?

The contribution condition is that for at least one tax year during your spouse or civil partner's working life:-

• they paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions and
• the contributions give rise to an earnings factor (or total earnings factors) equal to or greater than 25 times the Lower Earnings Limit for that tax year

An earnings factor represents the amount of earnings on which your spouse or civil partner paid national insurance contributions but it usually changes each year.

There are situations in which the contribution condition can be considered to be met even if it isn't, such as when the death was the result of an industrial injury. If you are not sure if the contribution condition is met please seek advice from the Bereavement Service Helpline on 0345 608 8601.

How much will I receive in Bereavement Support Payment?

Recipients with children can receive an initial larger payment of £3,500 (if they claim within 12 months of the death) and up to 18 subsequent monthly payments of £350. This includes people who are pregnant when their spouse or civil partner dies.

Recipients without children can receive an initial payment of £2,500 (if they claim within 12 months of the death) and up to 18 monthly payments of £100.

When can I claim a Bereavement Support Payment?

The claim period starts on the date your spouse or civil partner died. If you claim within three months of that date your claim will be treated as having started on the date of death and you will receive a full 18 months of payments including the initial larger payment.

If you don't claim within three months of the death Bereavement Support Payment will not be payable for the full 18 months. Your claim will be considered to have started three months before the date you make your claim and you will only receive payments for the remainder of the claim period. 

The claim period finishes 18 months from the day after the date your spouse or civil partner died. If you do not claim within three months of the claim period finishing you will not be entitled to a Bereavement Support Payment.

You will only receive the initial larger payment if you claim within 12 months of the date of death.

Unlike the current bereavement benefits, a bereaved person who remarries or re-partners will be able to keep their Bereavement Support Payment. You will not be able to receive a Bereavement Support Payment once you reach pension age.

How do I claim Bereavement Support Payment

You can claim over the phone or by completing a claim form.

Call the Bereavement Service Helpline on 0800 731 0469 Monday - Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm, or text phone 0800 731 0464.

Get a Bereavement Support Payment claim form on the GOV.UK website.