Bereavement Benefits
Find out about what support is available to you when you lose a loved one
Financial support may be available to you if you experience a bereavement.
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP)
You may be eligible for this if your husband, wife or civil partner died in the last 3 years. To be eligible for the full amount, you must apply within the first 3 months of their death; you can apply up to 21 months after but will receive fewer payments.
You may be able to claim if either of the following applies to you:
- Your partner paid National Insurance Contributions for 25 weeks in 1 tax year
- Your partner died as a result of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
You must be under pension age and living in the UK to apply.
For more information click here
Support with funeral expenses
You may be able to receive this if all of the following apply to you:
- You meet the criteria on your relationship with the deceased
- You are in receipt of certain benefits
- You are planning a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
You or your partner must be in receipt of one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- The Disability or Severe Disability element of Working Tax Credit
Your relationship with the deceased must be one of the following:
- You are the partner of the deceased
- You are a relative or close friend of the deceased
- You are the parent of a stillborn baby after 24 weeks of pregnancy
- You are the parent or responsible person for child 16 or under (or under 20 and in full time education or training)
If you think you are eligible to make a claim you can click here for more information about how to move forward with this or you can contact our office and speak to one of our advice workers.
