DWP payment of £3,500 if you've lost a partner and are under this age
The Bereavement Support Payment offers financial assistance to those who have lost a partner and has superseded several benefits that provided similar levels of support
Those grieving the loss of a partner could be eligible for up to £3,500 through the Bereavement Support Payment. This financial aid is available to those who have lost a partner and has replaced several similar benefits, including the Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance (previously known as Widows' Pension).
Importantly, the Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested, so your income and savings won't impact the amount you could receive. To qualify for this payment, certain conditions must have been met at the time of your partner's death.
For instance, they must have resided in the UK or a country that offers bereavement benefits, and they must have been below the State Pension age, currently set at 66.
Moreover, it's not necessary to have been married to your partner to be eligible for the payment. If you were cohabiting with your partner as though you were married, you could still be considered eligible.
Additionally, one of the following must have applied to your partner:
- Paid a certain amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any one tax year since 6 April 1975
- Died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
If you believe you're eligible for the payment, you must claim within 21 months of your partner's death. However, if this period has passed, you might still be able to claim if the cause of death was only recently confirmed.
How much you could get from Bereavement Support
The amount you could receive from Bereavement Support depends on your relationship with the deceased, when you submit your claim, and when you will reach State Pension age. If you were married or in a civil partnership, you could be eligible for the higher rate if you were pregnant, receiving child benefit for a child living with you, or were informed that you were entitled to child benefit.
The higher rate includes a one-off payment of £3,500 or 18 monthly payments of £350. Otherwise, you could receive the lower rate which consists of either a £2,500 one-off payment or 18 monthly payments of £100.
If you were cohabiting with your partner as if you were married, you could still qualify for the higher rate of £3,500. To receive the one-off payment and all 18 monthly payments, you must claim within three months of your partner's death.
If a claim is made after three months but before 12 months, you will receive the one-off payment and some of the monthly payments. If both deadlines are missed, you will only be eligible for some of the monthly payments.
Furthermore, if you reach State Pension age within 18 months of your partner's death, you may receive fewer monthly payments.
Backdated payments
You might also be able to backdate the payment if your partner passed away after 5 April 2019 and if the following conditions apply:
- When your partner died, you were living together as if you were married
- You were either pregnant or had a child living with you when your partner died
- You’ve been told by the Child Benefit Office that you were entitled to Child Benefit for that child between when your partner died and when you make your claim
- You got Child Benefit for that child between when your partner died and when you make your claim
- You were under State Pension age on 30 August 2018
Applications for a backpayment must be submitted before 9 November 2024.
How to claim Bereavement Support Payment
You can make a claim either online, by telephone, or through the post. Before making any kind of application, you will need the following:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your bank or building society account details
- The date your partner died
- Your partner’s National Insurance number
Online
Applications can be made through the government website here.
Telephone
You can contact the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012.
Post
You can receive a claim form online or get one from the Bereavement Service helpline. After it's filled in, you can send the form to the address included on it.