TL;DR: The traditional UK "widow's pension" was replaced by Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) for deaths from 6 April 2017. For 2025-26 BSP pays a tax-free lump sum and a tax-free monthly amount: at the higher rate (claimant with a dependent child or pregnant) a 3,500 pound lump sum plus 350 pounds a month for 18 months; at the standard rate (no dependent child) a 2,500 pound lump sum plus 100 pounds a month for 18 months. The surviving spouse must be under State Pension age at the time of bereavement. Older legacy "widow's pension" and "widowed parent's allowance" claims continue under their original rules. The State Pension itself is personal to each individual, so the surviving spouse continues to receive their own State Pension; in some cases additional or inherited components may apply.
Last reviewed May 2026
The phrase "widow's pension" is widely used but technically refers to a benefit that was replaced in 2017. The successor is Bereavement Support Payment, which works differently from the old widow's benefits and pays a smaller, time-limited amount. Understanding which benefit applies to a particular situation requires checking the date of bereavement and the claimant's circumstances.
This guide sets out exactly how much Bereavement Support Payment pays, the eligibility criteria, the position for older legacy claims still in payment, how the State Pension interacts on bereavement, and the related supports such as funeral payments and the war widow's pension that some survivors may also be entitled to.
Bereavement Support Payment: the modern "widow's pension"
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) was introduced by the Pensions Act 2014 and is the successor to the older Bereavement Allowance, Widowed Parent's Allowance, and Widow's Pension. BSP applies where the spouse, civil partner, or (since 9 February 2023 following a Supreme Court ruling) qualifying cohabiting partner with children, died on or after 6 April 2017.
BSP is paid at two rates. The "higher rate" applies where the claimant has dependent children or is pregnant at the time of bereavement: a lump sum of 3,500 pounds within the first month, followed by 18 monthly instalments of 350 pounds. The "standard rate" applies to claimants without dependent children: a lump sum of 2,500 pounds within the first month, followed by 18 monthly instalments of 100 pounds.
BSP is non-taxable and is disregarded for tax-credit and Universal Credit purposes for 12 months from the first payment. It is paid in addition to other benefits (so it does not displace Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or other support) for that disregard period, after which the standard means-tested benefits rules apply.
To qualify, the deceased must have paid National Insurance contributions in at least one tax year between 25 weeks of working age (in practice, broadly, since age 16) or have died as the result of an industrial injury. The surviving spouse, civil partner, or cohabitee must be under State Pension age at the time of the bereavement. BSP cannot be claimed by someone already over State Pension age at the time of the death.
The 2023 extension to cohabiting partners with children
Until February 2023, BSP and the older Widowed Parent's Allowance were available only to married couples and civil partners. Following the Supreme Court ruling in McLaughlin and the related Court of Appeal decision in Jackson, the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 extended eligibility to qualifying cohabiting partners with children.
A cohabiting partner can qualify for BSP if at the date of the partner's death they were living with the deceased as if they were married or in a civil partnership, and at least one child of the deceased was living with them and being maintained by them. The rules also allow retrospective claims for deaths from 30 August 2018 onwards where a child was involved, with strict time limits applying to backdating.
The extension does not apply to cohabiting partners without children. A surviving cohabitee without children does not qualify for BSP in any rate, however long the relationship lasted, unless they were married or in a civil partnership at the time of death.
Legacy claims: Widow's Pension, Bereavement Allowance, and Widowed Parent's Allowance
Claims that started before 6 April 2017 continue under their original rules. Widow's Pension (the original benefit) was available for older widows, paid for life or until remarriage. Bereavement Allowance (formerly Widow's Bereavement Allowance) was paid for up to 52 weeks to a widow aged 45 or over without dependent children. Widowed Parent's Allowance was paid to widows or widowers with dependent children until their youngest child reached the end of compulsory education.
These legacy benefits are paid at rates linked to the deceased's NI record and the survivor's age. They are taxable, unlike BSP. A small number of surviving spouses are still receiving these legacy benefits because the bereavement occurred before April 2017 or because the claim was a long-term Widowed Parent's Allowance continuing until the youngest child reached the end of compulsory education.
For new bereavements occurring on or after 6 April 2017, only BSP is available. The legacy rules can no longer be claimed for new deaths, regardless of when the underlying marriage or NI record was built up.
State Pension on bereavement
Under the new State Pension (for those reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016) the pension is fundamentally personal to each individual. The surviving spouse continues to receive their own State Pension at the same rate; the deceased's State Pension ceases on death.
In some cases the survivor can inherit a portion of the deceased's Additional State Pension (the old SERPS or S2P top-up) or transitional Protected Payment (the part of the new State Pension calculated under transitional rules). The inherited amount depends on when each spouse reached State Pension age and on the components of the deceased's pension. The Department for Work and Pensions calculates the inheritance and uplifts the survivor's payment once the death is reported.
Under the old basic State Pension (for those who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016) a surviving spouse could inherit at most the deceased's Category A basic pension, taking the higher of their own or the deceased's basic pension up to the maximum. Additional State Pension could also be inherited in part. These rules still apply to surviving spouses whose case falls under the old system.
Other supports for the bereaved
Funeral Expenses Payment is a separate benefit administered by the Department for Work and Pensions to help with funeral costs for low-income claimants. It can cover specified funeral costs including burial fees, cremation fees, the cost of a coffin, travel, and limited other expenses. The claimant has to be in receipt of certain qualifying means-tested benefits.
The Funeral Support Payment in Scotland is administered by Social Security Scotland and is the Scottish equivalent of Funeral Expenses Payment. The qualifying conditions are broadly similar and the amounts are reviewed annually.
War Widow's or Widower's Pension is a separate benefit administered by Veterans UK for spouses of armed forces personnel who died as a result of service, including those whose injury or illness was caused by service. It is paid at rates depending on the deceased's rank and the survivor's circumstances and is largely tax-free.
The Child Bereavement UK and other bereavement charities provide non-financial support. The DWP's Tell Us Once service allows the survivor to report a death to multiple government departments simultaneously, including HMRC, Department for Work and Pensions, and the Passport Office.
How and when to claim
BSP claims have to be made within three months of the partner's death to receive the full benefit; later claims (up to 21 months after) can receive a reduced amount, with the lump sum paid in full only for claims within three months. The application is made through the Bereavement Support Payment claim form, available from GOV.UK or by phone from the Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Service.
The claimant needs the deceased's National Insurance number, their own NI number, the death certificate (or confirmation that the death has been registered), and bank details for payment. The lump sum is paid into the claimant's bank account within a few weeks of approval; the monthly instalments are then paid on a regular schedule for 18 months.
Claimants who are also entitled to inherit a portion of the deceased's State Pension (where the survivor is also over State Pension age) should let the DWP know separately. The State Pension inheritance is calculated and applied to the survivor's existing pension payment.
How we verified this
The figures, rates, and eligibility criteria described here are drawn from the Pensions Act 2014 (which introduced Bereavement Support Payment), the Bereavement Support Payment Regulations 2017, the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023 (extending eligibility to cohabiting partners with children), the published DWP guidance on bereavement benefits, and the Department for Work and Pensions' annual benefit rates publication. The 2025-26 figures for BSP are the statutory rates. No invented case numbers or claimant details have been used.
Disclaimer: This article is general information about UK bereavement benefits and the legacy widow's pension. It is not personal advice. Eligibility depends on the specific circumstances of the bereavement, the date of death, the surviving partner's circumstances, and the deceased's NI record. Anyone making or supporting a claim should rely on the current DWP and GOV.UK guidance and contact the Bereavement Service directly for a personalised assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the widow's pension in the UK?
The traditional widow's pension was replaced by Bereavement Support Payment for deaths from 6 April 2017. For 2025-26 BSP pays at two rates. The higher rate (for claimants with a dependent child or who are pregnant) is a 3,500 pound lump sum plus 18 monthly payments of 350 pounds. The standard rate (no dependent child) is a 2,500 pound lump sum plus 18 monthly payments of 100 pounds. The amounts are tax-free.
Who can claim Bereavement Support Payment?
The surviving spouse, civil partner, or (from 9 February 2023, where the couple had children together) qualifying cohabiting partner of someone who died on or after 6 April 2017. The claimant has to be under State Pension age at the time of death. The deceased must have paid at least one year of National Insurance contributions, or have died as the result of an industrial injury.
Can I claim a widow's pension if I was not married?
Since 9 February 2023, qualifying cohabiting partners with a child of the deceased can claim BSP. Cohabiting partners without children remain ineligible for BSP, regardless of how long the relationship lasted. The 2023 extension was in response to a Supreme Court ruling and the related Court of Appeal decision; it does not change the position for childless cohabitees.
How long is Bereavement Support Payment paid for?
The lump sum is paid once within the first month after the claim is approved. The monthly instalments are paid for 18 months. The benefit then stops, regardless of the survivor's circumstances at that point. It does not continue for life or until remarriage (in contrast to the legacy widow's pension).
Will my own State Pension change when my spouse dies?
Your own State Pension continues at the same rate. In some cases you may inherit a portion of your deceased spouse's Additional State Pension or Protected Payment, depending on when each of you reached State Pension age. The Department for Work and Pensions calculates the inherited amount when you report the death and uplifts your existing payment accordingly. The basic State Pension itself is not inherited under the new system.
