Bereavement Support Payment¶
Most surviving spouses and civil partners in the UK are entitled to a meaningful one-off lump sum and 18 months of monthly payments from the DWP after the death — and a meaningful proportion of them never claim it. The payment is the Bereavement Support Payment (BSP), which has existed in its current form since April 2017 and was extended to eligible cohabiting partners in February 2023. It is not means-tested, not taxable, and (for the first 12 months after the first payment) does not count as income for Universal Credit and the other means-tested benefits. The single most common reason families miss out is not knowing it exists. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-2026-04-29.html]
This guide covers eligibility, the two rates, the National Insurance test, how to claim, what happens to other benefits, and what to do if a claim is rejected. The detailed entity page on Bereavement Support Payment holds the headline figures and links to the official sources.
If you can only do one thing today: apply within 3 months of the death to receive the full award. After 3 months, monthly payments for elapsed months are forfeit; after 12 months, the lump sum is forfeit; after 21 months, the claim usually closes entirely. If the deceased was under State Pension age and met the National Insurance condition (almost any UK working history qualifies), apply via gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment or phone the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday 8am–6pm; Northern Ireland uses 0800 085 2463). [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-how-to-claim-2026-04-29.html]
What it is and what it pays¶
BSP is a non-means-tested payment from the Department for Work & Pensions for the surviving spouse, civil partner, or eligible cohabiting partner of someone whose National Insurance contributions made the death qualify. It replaced three older benefits — Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment, and Widowed Parent's Allowance — for deaths from 6 April 2017 onwards. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-2026-04-29.html]
Two rates:
| Rate | Lump sum | Monthly payments | Maximum total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £3,500 | £350 × 18 months | £9,800 |
| Standard rate | £2,500 | £100 × 18 months | £4,300 |
| [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-what-youll-get-2026-04-29.html] |
The higher rate applies if, on the day the partner died, the survivor was either: receiving Child Benefit, entitled to Child Benefit (whether or not it was being paid), or pregnant. Cohabiting partners with a dependent child who qualify under the February 2023 extension always receive the higher rate. The standard rate applies otherwise. The rate is fixed at the date of death — later changes in circumstances do not move the survivor between rates. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-eligibility-2026-04-29.html]
The lump sum is paid first; monthly BSP payments then arrive on the same day each month for up to 18 months. The 18-month period is fixed — the payments do not extend if the survivor's circumstances change (a job loss, an illness, a move). After 18 months, BSP stops; any continuing financial need falls back to Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, or other support depending on the survivor's circumstances.
Who can claim¶
All of the following must be true:
- The survivor's spouse or civil partner has died, or the survivor was the cohabiting partner with a dependent child (cohabiting partners without a dependent child remain ineligible).
- The survivor was under State Pension age on the day the partner died. State Pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 in stages between May 2026 and April 2028. Survivors at or above State Pension age at the date of death cannot claim BSP, but should check entitlement to a State Pension or Pension Credit instead.
- The survivor normally lives in the UK or in a country with a relevant social-security agreement with the UK.
- The deceased met the National Insurance condition (see next section) or died as a result of an industrial accident or recognised work-related disease.
[source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-eligibility-2026-04-29.html]
The National Insurance condition¶
The deceased must have paid Class 1 (employed) or Class 2 (self-employed) National Insurance contributions in any one tax year since 6 April 1975. There is no minimum number of weeks; almost any UK working history qualifies. Contributions can also have been credited to the record (for example, during periods of recognised caring responsibility). Where the death was caused by an industrial accident or work-related disease, the condition is treated as met regardless of contribution history. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-eligibility-2026-04-29.html]
The survivor does not need to prove this independently. The DWP checks the HMRC National Insurance record automatically as part of processing the claim. To check in advance, the survivor can:
- Phone HMRC on 0300 200 3500 and ask for a National Insurance record summary.
- Check online at gov.uk/check-national-insurance-record (requires a Government Gateway login).
- Write to HMRC at HM Revenue & Customs, National Insurance Contributions Office, BX9 1AA — postal requests typically take 4 to 6 weeks.
The DWP's automatic check is normally faster than any of these, so applying first and letting them check is usually the better route.
The 3-month claim window — and what happens after¶
BSP is one of the most time-sensitive bereavement benefits in the UK system. The award degrades on a sliding scale:
| Time since death | What is paid |
|---|---|
| Within 3 months | Lump sum + all 18 monthly payments |
| 3 to 12 months | Lump sum + monthly payments only for the months still to come within the 18-month window |
| 12 to 21 months | No lump sum; monthly payments only for the months still to come within the 18-month window |
| After 21 months | Usually closed (see exceptions below) |
| [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-what-youll-get-2026-04-29.html] |
The takeaway: apply as early as possible. Many families only learn about BSP weeks or months into the probate process. The amount left on the table by a delayed claim can run into thousands of pounds.
After 21 months the BSP claim usually closes, but the Bereavement Service should still be contacted before assuming so where:
- The cause of death has only recently been confirmed (after an inquest, post-mortem, or delayed medical investigation) — claims may be allowed outside the usual window in this case.
- The DWP has a wrong date of death recorded.
- The deceased was a member of the armed forces — different schemes apply, including the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
How to claim¶
Online — at gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment. Available in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales). The fastest route. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-how-to-claim-2026-04-29.html]
By phone in Great Britain — DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012, Monday to Friday 8am–6pm. The agent takes the claim over the phone.
By phone in Northern Ireland — Bereavement Service for Northern Ireland on 0800 085 2463. NI uses a separate route through the Department for Communities (DfC) rather than the DWP.
By post — download form BSP1 from gov.uk, complete it, and send to: Bereavement Support Payment, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BS. The form can also be handed in at a Jobcentre Plus office. Postal claims are slower than phone or online claims.
The application asks for: the survivor's name, address, and National Insurance number; bank details for payment; the date the partner died and their National Insurance number (the DWP can search if the survivor doesn't have it); the marriage or civil-partnership certificate (cohabiting partners are asked instead about the dependent-child position); and whether on the day of the partner's death the survivor was getting Child Benefit, entitled to Child Benefit, or pregnant (which determines higher vs standard rate). The DWP will request additional documents only if the standard checks raise a question.
How BSP affects other benefits¶
For the first 12 months after the first BSP payment, BSP does not count as income for any of the means-tested benefits — Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit. [source: gov-uk/bereavement-support-payment-what-youll-get-2026-04-29.html]
After 12 months, any of the first payment that has not been spent can be treated as savings or capital at the next benefit claim or review. Money already spent is not affected. Subsequent monthly BSP payments are also disregarded as income for those benefits — the 12-month treatment is a simplifying assumption rather than a hard cutoff for everything.
The survivor must still tell the office paying their other benefits that BSP has started, even though the payments do not reduce other entitlements in the first year. Different DWP teams do not always update each other automatically and a missed disclosure can create overpayment problems later.
Child Benefit is unaffected by BSP. State Pension is paid alongside BSP where the survivor is over State Pension age and qualifies for both — though a survivor over State Pension age cannot make a new BSP claim.
If the application is rejected¶
Common reasons for rejection: the deceased did not meet the National Insurance condition and did not die as a result of work; the survivor was already receiving BSP from a previous bereavement and the 18-month window has not closed; the relationship test (married, civil partnership, or cohabiting partner with a dependent child) was not met at the date of death.
The decision letter sets out the reason and the survivor has one month to ask for a mandatory reconsideration — a written request to the address on the letter, explaining why the decision was wrong, with any new evidence attached. If the reconsideration also rejects the claim, the next step is an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support). Citizens Advice can help free of charge with both stages.
If the survivor moves abroad¶
A survivor already receiving BSP can usually continue receiving payments after moving abroad. New claims from abroad are possible from countries with a relevant social-security agreement with the UK; the rules vary by country. Anyone considering a move should check gov.uk/claim-benefits-abroad/bereavement-benefits or contact the DWP's International Pension Centre before assuming payments will or will not continue.
Scotland and Northern Ireland¶
Scotland: BSP applies identically to England and Wales. Same rates, same eligibility, same National Insurance test. Apply via gov.uk or phone 0800 151 2012.
Northern Ireland: same rates and eligibility, but a separate Bereavement Service operated by the Department for Communities. Phone 0800 085 2463. Postal claims are handled within Northern Ireland rather than at the Wolverhampton address used in Great Britain. Check nidirect.gov.uk for the current claim form and address.
What this guide doesn't cover¶
- The older bereavement benefits for deaths before 6 April 2017 (Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment, Widowed Parent's Allowance) — different rules, mostly closed to new claims; the DWP can confirm what is available for an earlier death.
- Funeral cost help — see Funeral Expenses Payment (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) and Funeral Support Payment (Scotland).
- Stopping the deceased's benefits — see Stopping benefits after a death.
- Workplace and personal pension survivor benefits — these are paid separately by pension schemes, on their own rules; the BSP rules do not affect them.
- Armed forces bereavement schemes — outside the scope of this guide; the FCDO and Service Personnel and Veterans Agency are the relevant contacts.
If you're struggling, you don't have to do this alone. Samaritans (116 123, 24/7) | Cruse Bereavement Care (0808 808 1677) | Mind (0300 123 3393)
Next: Stopping benefits after a death
Last verified: 2 May 2026 against gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment and the gov.uk eligibility, how-to-claim, and what-you'll-get pages.