Your benefits, tax and pension after the death of a partner

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Benefits

You’ll have to make new claims for some benefits that your partner was claiming for your family.

You may also be able to claim other benefits to help with your bereavement or if you’re on a lower income because of the death.

Bereavement benefits

You may be able to get:

Phone the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bereavement Service to check if:

  • you can get bereavement benefits
  • the death will affect any other benefits you’re already claiming

DWP Bereavement Service
Telephone: 0800 151 2012
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 151 2012
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

You’ll have to make new claims for Child Benefit and tax credits if your partner was claiming them.

Child Benefit

You’ll need to make a new claim for Child Benefit if you were not the person named as the claimant on the original claim form.

Tax credits

You should tell the Tax Credit Office about the death within one month if you have not already heard from them. Phone the Tax Credit Helpline to report the death.

If your income is lower

You may be able to get benefits if you’re on a lower income following the death of your partner. Use a benefits calculator to work out what benefits you can get and find out how to claim.

You may also be able to apply for:

You may have to pay Income Tax on some benefits you claim.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Part of What to do when someone dies: step by step

  1. Step 1 Register the death

    1. Register the death

    Check what to do if:

  2. Step 2 Tell government about the death

    The Tell Us Once service allows you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies.

    1. Use the Tell Us Once service to tell government
    2. If you cannot use Tell Us Once, tell government yourself

    You'll also need to tell banks, utility companies, and landlords or housing associations yourself.

  3. Step 3 Arrange the funeral

    1. Arrange the funeral
    2. Get help paying for a funeral
    3. Get help paying for a child's funeral

  4. Step 4 Check if you can get bereavement benefits

    You might be eligible for financial help.

    Check if you can get:

  5. and Deal with your own benefits, pension and taxes

    Your tax, benefit claims and pension might change depending on your relationship with the person who died.

    1. Manage your tax, pensions and benefits if your partner has died
    2. Check how benefits are affected if a child dies

  6. and Find bereavement support and services

    Get help with managing grief and the things you need to do when someone dies.

    1. Find bereavement help and support
    2. Find bereavement services from your local council

  7. and Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK

    If your right to live in the UK depends on your relationship with someone who died you might need to apply for a new visa.

    Check the rules if:

    1. Contact UKVI to check the rules for other visas

  8. Step 5 Value the estate and check if you need to pay Inheritance Tax

    To find out if there’s Inheritance Tax to pay, you need to estimate the value of the property, money and possessions (the ‘estate’) of the person who died.

    1. Estimate the value of the estate to find out if you need to pay Inheritance Tax
    1. Find out how to report the value of the estate
    1. Pay Inheritance Tax if it’s due

  9. Step 6 Apply for probate

    You might need to apply for probate before you can deal with the property, money and possessions (the ‘estate’) of the person who died.

    1. Check if you need to apply for probate
    1. Apply for probate

  10. Step 7 Deal with the estate

    Pay any debts or taxes owed by the person who's died. You can then distribute the estate as set out in the will or the law.

    1. Deal with the estate
    1. Update property records