Your benefits, tax and pension after the death of a partner
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:
- Funeral Expenses Payment - to help towards the cost of a funeral if you’re on a low income
- Bereavement Support Payment - if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 21 months, or if your partner you were living with as though married died after 6 April 2017
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance - if your partner died before 6 April 2017 and you have at least one dependent child
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:
- Winter Fuel Payment - if you were born on or before 5 July 1952
- Cold Weather Payment - if you’re on a low income
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
You may have to pay Income Tax on some benefits you claim.