Bereavement Support Payment
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
You’ll 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 £3,500
- 18 monthly payments of £350
If you’re not eligible for the higher rate, you’ll get the lower rate instead.
The most you can get is:
- a one-off payment of £2,500
- 18 monthly payments of £100
If you were living together as if you were married
The most you can get is:
- a one-off payment of £3,500
- 18 monthly payments of £350
When you make your claim
You must claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments.
If it’s been over 3 months but fewer than 12 months since your partner’s death, you can get the one-off payment but only some of the monthly payments.
If it’s been over 12 months but fewer than 21 months since your partner’s death, you cannot get the one-off payment but you can still get some monthly payments.
If it’s been over 21 months since your partner’s death, you usually cannot get any payments.
When you reach State Pension age
If you reach State Pension age within 18 months of your partner’s 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, your local Jobcentre Plus) when you start getting Bereavement Support Payment.