TL;DR
Bereavement Support Payment helps with costs after the death of a spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner, for deaths on or after 6 April 2017. It is paid as a first lump sum followed by monthly instalments. The standard rate is a £2,500 lump sum plus £100 a month; the higher rate, for those entitled to Child Benefit or who were pregnant when their partner died, is a £3,500 lump sum plus £350 a month. It is not means-tested and does not affect other benefits for the first year.
Last reviewed 30 June 2026
What Bereavement Support Payment is
Bereavement Support Payment is financial help for people whose husband, wife, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died, where the death was on or after 6 April 2017. It replaced earlier bereavement benefits. It is made up of a one-off first payment followed by a series of monthly payments, and is intended to help with the immediate and ongoing costs of bereavement.
Standard rate and higher rate
There are two rates. The standard rate is a first payment of £2,500 followed by up to 18 monthly payments of £100. The higher rate is a first payment of £3,500 followed by up to 18 monthly payments of £350. You get the higher rate if you were entitled to Child Benefit, or were pregnant when your partner died. Otherwise the standard rate applies.
Who can claim
To qualify, your partner must generally have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year, or have died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work. You must have been under State Pension age when your partner died and usually resident in the UK. You must have been married or in a civil partnership, or living together with your partner as if married, including where you have children or were pregnant.
The claim window
You should claim within three months of the death to receive the full amount, because the monthly payments are counted from the month of death. You can still claim up to 21 months after the death, but you will receive fewer monthly payments the longer you wait. The first payment can usually still be claimed within the longer window.
Effect on other benefits and tax
Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect it. It is not taxable, and it is disregarded for other benefits for 12 months from the date of your first payment. After that, money you still hold could count toward the savings limits for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit.
How to claim
You can claim by phone, by post, or online through the official service. You will need details of yourself and your partner, including National Insurance numbers and the date of death. Reporting the death through Tell Us Once does not automatically make the claim, so Bereavement Support Payment must be claimed separately.
Related guides
Disclaimer: This article is general information and not financial or welfare advice. Rates and eligibility are set by the DWP and can change. For help with a claim, contact the Bereavement Service or a free adviser such as Citizens Advice. Figures are from the GOV.UK source below.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Bereavement Support Payment in 2026?
The standard rate is a £2,500 lump sum plus £100 a month for up to 18 months. The higher rate is a £3,500 lump sum plus £350 a month for up to 18 months.
Who gets the higher rate?
People who were entitled to Child Benefit, or who were pregnant when their partner died.
How long do I have to claim?
Claim within three months of the death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after, but receive fewer monthly payments the longer you wait.
Does it affect my other benefits?
It is not means-tested and is disregarded for other benefits for 12 months from your first payment.
Do I have to claim it separately from Tell Us Once?
Yes. Reporting a death through Tell Us Once does not make the claim for you.
