Bereavement Support Payment

The loss of a spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner is an incredibly painful experience. Beyond the emotional hardship, bereavement frequently brings immediate financial pressures, such as funeral expenses and living on a reduced household income. Bereavement Support Payment is a government benefit created to offer financial stability to surviving partners during the months following a loss.

Who Qualifies for Bereavement Support Payment

You can claim Bereavement Support Payment if you meet the following conditions:

• Your partner died when you were under State Pension age.
• You were living in the UK or a country that pays UK bereavement benefits.
• You were married to, in a civil partnership with, or cohabiting with the deceased partner as a couple with dependent children.

Your partner must have paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in any single tax year since 1975, or died as a result of an industrial accident or prescribed disease.

Payment Rates and Structure for 2026/27

Bereavement Support Payment consists of an initial tax-free lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly payments. The rate you receive depends on whether you have dependent children.

| Rate Category | Initial Lump Sum | Monthly Payment (up to 18 months) | | --- | --- | --- | | Higher Rate (With dependent children or pregnant) | £3,500 | £350 per month | | Standard Rate (Without dependent children) | £2,500 | £100 per month |

If you were pregnant when your partner died, or if you were receiving Child Benefit for a child who lived with you and your partner, you qualify for the higher rate.

Tax Rules and Benefit Interaction

Bereavement Support Payment offers distinct financial protections:

• All lump sums and monthly payments are completely tax-free.
• Payments are ignored when calculating your income and capital for Universal Credit and other means-tested benefits for the full 18-month payment period.
• Payments do not count towards the benefit cap.

This ensures you can use the support to cover immediate funeral costs and adapt your household finances without losing existing benefit entitlement.

Important Claim Deadlines

Timing is critical when claiming Bereavement Support Payment:

• Full Entitlement: To receive the full initial lump sum and all 18 monthly payments, you must submit your claim within three months of your partner's death.
• Late Claims: If you claim after three months, you will still receive the initial lump sum, but the number of monthly payments will be reduced.
• Cut-Off Limit: You cannot receive any monthly payments if you apply more than 21 months after your partner's death.

How to Apply

You can submit your application online, over the phone, or by downloading a paper claim form. Have your National Insurance number and details of your partner's death ready.

Start your application on the GOV.UK Bereavement Support Payment service.