Bereavement Support Payment
Overview
Overview
If your spouse or civil partner has died you may be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment to help ease some of the financial worries you may be facing. These benefits are not means-tested, this means they are available to anyone regardless of their income level and can be paid whether or not you are working.
If your spouse or civil partner has died you may be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment to help ease some of the financial worries you may be facing. These benefits are not means-tested, this means they are available to anyone regardless of their income level and can be paid whether or not you are working.
Eligibility
Eligibility
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.
You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.
You could be eligible if your partner either:
You could be eligible if your partner either:
- paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks
- died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
When they died you must have been:
When they died you must have been:
- under State Pension age
- living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you are in prison.
You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you are in prison.
What will you get?
What will you get?
You will get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments.
You will get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments.
There are 2 rates:
There are 2 rates:
Higher rate:
Higher rate:
First payment £3,500.00
First payment £3,500.00
Monthly £350.00
Monthly £350.00
£350
£350
Lower rate:
Lower rate:
First payment £2,500
First payment £2,500
Monthly £100
Monthly £100
If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you will get the higher rate.
If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you will get the higher rate.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you will get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you will get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
You must claim within 3 months of your husband, wife or civil partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after but your payments will be less.
You must claim within 3 months of your husband, wife or civil partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after but your payments will be less.
How is is paid?
How is is paid?
Your payments will be paid into your bank or building society account.
Your payments will be paid into your bank or building society account.
If you get benefits
If you get benefits
Bereavement Support Payment will not affect your benefits for a year after your first payment. After a year, any payment you have left over could affect the amount of benefit you’re eligible for.
Bereavement Support Payment will not affect your benefits for a year after your first payment. After a year, any payment you have left over could affect the amount of benefit you’re eligible for.
You must tell your benefits office (for example, your local Jobcentre Plus) when you start getting Bereavement Support Payment.
You must tell your benefits office (for example, your local Jobcentre Plus) when you start getting Bereavement Support Payment.
How to claim
How to claim
How you apply depends on where you are.
How you apply depends on where you are.
If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales
If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales
You can apply using a form or by phone.
You can apply using a form or by phone.
Download a Bereavement Support Payment pack (form BSP1) or order it over the phone from your local Jobcentre Plus.
Download a Bereavement Support Payment pack (form BSP1) or order it over the phone from your local Jobcentre Plus.
Take the completed form to your local Jobcentre Plus or send it to:
Take the completed form to your local Jobcentre Plus or send it to:
Bereavement Support Payment
Bereavement Support Payment
Mail Handling Site A
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
WV98 2BS
WV98 2BS
Bereavement Service helpline
Bereavement Service helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language: 0800 731 0456
Welsh language: 0800 731 0456
NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0469
NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0469
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
If you are in Northern Ireland
If you are in Northern Ireland
There’s a different process in Northern Ireland.
There’s a different process in Northern Ireland.
If you are abroad
If you are abroad
You can apply by phone.
You can apply by phone.
International Pension Centre
International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7608
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7608
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm