[Closed] Bereavement Support Payment

Losing a partner is one of the hardest things anyone goes through, and money worries are the last thing you need on top of it. Bereavement Support Paymen is there to give you a bit of breathing space. It's a lump sum, followed by up to 18 monthly payments.

How much is it?

Higher rate: £3,500 lump sum, then £350 a month (up to £9,800 in total). This is for you if you get or are entitled to Child Benefit, or if you were pregnant when your partner died.

Standard rate: £2,500 lump sum, then £100 a month (up to £4,300 in total). This is for spouses and civil partners without children.

Good things to know:

It's tax-free and not means-tested, so your income and savings don't affect it.

You need to be under State Pension age, and your partner needs to have paid enough National Insurance (or died because of an accident or illness caused by work).

It's for spouses and civil partners. Cohabiting partners can claim too, but only if they have children together or were pregnant.

Try to claim within 3 months of your loss to get the full amount. You can still claim after that, but you may miss out on some monthly payments.

It doesn't count as income for most other benefits, so it shouldn't reduce things like Universal Credit.

Where to start: you can claim on GOV.UK or by phone. If it all feels like too much right now, it's absolutely fine to ask a friend, family member or Citizens Advice to help.

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. If your partner died before 6 April 2017, you may need Widowed Parent's Allowance instead.