Can I get Bereavement Support Payment?

For people whose partner has died.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

You may get it if your partner has died. The most you can get is a one-off £3,500 plus 18 monthly payments of £350.

The higher rate applies if you were getting Child Benefit or were pregnant; otherwise it's £2,500 plus 18 payments of £100.
Claim within 3 months to get the full amount.
After 21 months you usually can't get any payments.
It won't affect your other benefits for a year.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Up to £3,500 plus £350 a month
Claim within 3 months
18 monthly payments

Bereavement Support Payment amounts

Rate	Who gets it	First payment	Monthly payments (up to 18)	Total
Higher rate	You were pregnant or entitled to Child Benefit when your partner died	£3,500	£350	£9,800
Standard rate	Everyone else who qualifies	£2,500	£100	£4,300

These amounts apply where the death was on or after 6 April 2017.

Who can get it

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if you were married to your partner, in a civil partnership with them, or living with them as if you were married. If you were not married or in a civil partnership, you must also have been getting or entitled to Child Benefit, or been pregnant, when they died. You must have been under State Pension age when they died.

Your partner must have paid a certain amount of National Insurance contributions in any one tax year since 6 April 1975, or died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.

It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not matter.

Claim quickly to get the full amount

Claim within 3 months of the death to get the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments.
Claim between 3 and 12 months after the death and you still get the one-off payment, but fewer monthly payments.
Claim between 12 and 21 months after the death and you lose the one-off payment. You can still get some monthly payments.
After 21 months you usually cannot get it.

Effect on other benefits

Bereavement Support Payment will not affect your other benefits for a year after your first payment. After that, any of it you still have could affect your benefits when you renew or make a new claim. Tell your benefits office when you start getting it.

In Northern Ireland, you apply through nidirect.

Older deaths

If your partner died before 6 April 2017, you may instead be getting Widowed Parent's Allowance, which is £156.65 a week in 2026/27.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

See how to claim

Common questions

Can unmarried partners claim?

Yes, if you lived together as if married. The most you can get is the same higher amounts.

Official sources

1.Bereavement Support Payment: what you'll getwww.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/what-youll-get
2.Bereavement Support Paymentwww.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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