What is Bereavement Support Payment?
Links marked * are commercial or go to our partner sites, which share our operator. Third-party companies may pay us commission. How we make money.
In short: Bereavement Support Payment can provide an initial payment plus up to 18 monthly payments after a spouse, civil partner or qualifying cohabiting partner dies. You must meet the age, residence and contribution conditions; usually claim within 3 months for the full entitlement.
Content updated:
For a cohabiting claim, you must normally have been receiving or confirmed as entitled to Child Benefit for a child living with you, or have been pregnant when your partner died. If your partner held the Child Benefit entitlement instead, claim Child Benefit in your name before applying. Check the separate rules for a backdated claim.
Eligible cohabiting survivors receive the higher rate: up to £3,500 initially and £350 monthly. Married or civil-partner survivors receive that rate if they meet the Child Benefit or pregnancy condition, otherwise up to £2,500 initially and £100 monthly. The number of payments can be affected by a late claim or reaching State Pension age.
Usually claim within 3 months for the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments. Between 3 and 12 months, the one-off payment can still be paid but there are fewer monthly payments; after 12 months the one-off payment is normally lost. Claims normally close after 21 months, with limited exceptions such as a recently confirmed cause of death.
Primary source: www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/eligibility
Part of our Benefits & tax
This quick answer sits inside our wider benefits & tax hub — with sub-guides, calculators and step-by-step explainers on the same topic.
Read the full benefits & tax guide →