Bereavement Support Payment is a lesser-known welfare benefit available to those whose husband, wife, or civil partner died in the last 21 months, helping relieve some of the financial burden at such a stressful and emotional time.
Though not means-tested, those eligible receive either a standard or higher benefit rate dependent on whether they are responsible for children or not. The support payment is only issued for 18 months after the date of death, so it’s important for applicants to apply sooner rather than later.
Bereavement Support has replaced Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow’s Pension), Bereavement Payment, and Widowed Parent’s Allowance. Interestingly there is no provision for those who cohabited – the support payment is only available to those who were married or in a civil partnership, though upcoming changes later in 2022 will enable unmarried parents to apply.
Though applications can be paid up to 21 months after the partner’s death, to get the full amount available a claim must be made within 3 months of the death. For the benefit of any doubt, claims can only be made from the date of death and not before!
As with all welfare benefits, there are some conditions, and these are set out below:
- The death must have occurred on or after 6th April 2017
- The deceased paid National Insurance contributions for a period of at least 25 weeks in one tax year since April 1975 or the deceased died as a result of an accident at work, or a disease caused by work
- The surviving partner was under State Pension age at the time of the partner’s death
- The surviving partner was living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement payments when the death occurred
Those successful in applying for the benefit are paid either a standard or higher rate as defined below:
| Standard Rate | Higher Rate | |
| Initial Lump Sum of | £2,500 | £3,500 |
| Further 18 Monthly Payments of | £100 | £350 |
The higher rate is payable to those who receive Child Benefit (or are entitled to it) at the time of death, or who were pregnant. All payments, including the lump sum, are not taxable and have no impact on other benefits received.
In addition, four years’ worth of backdated missed Marriage Allowance payments from April 2015 can be applied for if the couple had qualified for the payments but did not claim.
If the deceased passed away before 6 April 2017, and the couple had children, the surviving partner may be able to get Widowed Parent’s Allowance instead.
All in all, such payments can of course never take away the pain of losing a loved one but can certainly help a little. Further information can be found on the below Government website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bereavement-support-payment-claim-form
This article was submitted to be published by Anglia Research as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Wills and Probate. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Wills and Probate.
