Bereavement Support Payment is a tax-free benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions paid to people whose husband, wife, or civil partner has died.
In some circumstances, it’s also available to unmarried parents who were living together. If you qualify, you receive a one-off lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly payments. The amount depends on whether you were responsible for children when your partner died — the higher rate pays up to £9,800 in total, and the standard rate up to £4,300. To receive the full amount, you need to claim within three months of the death, though claims are accepted up to 21 months after.
Who can get Bereavement Support Payment?
To qualify for Bereavement Support Payment, you must meet all of the following conditions at the time your partner died.
You must have been the husband, wife, or civil partner of the person who died — or, in certain circumstances, their cohabiting partner (see below). Your partner must have died on or after 6 April 2017. You must have been under State Pension age when they died. And you must have been living in the UK, or in a country that has a social security agreement with the UK.
There is no income test and no means test. Whether you are in work, on other benefits, or have savings does not affect your eligibility.
The National Insurance condition
Your partner must have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in any single tax year since 6 April 1975. That year does not need to be recent — any qualifying year in their lifetime counts. Self-employed partners who paid Class 2 NI contributions meet this condition in the same way as employees.
If your partner died as a direct result of a work accident or a prescribed industrial disease, the NI condition is waived entirely — you can qualify even if they had minimal NI history.
You do not need to have paid NI contributions yourself.
If you were living together but not married
Following the Supreme Court judgment in Re Siobhan McLaughlin [2018] UKSC 48, and secondary legislation enacted in February 2023, cohabiting parents with dependent children can claim Bereavement Support Payment. To qualify under this route, you must have been living together as a couple at the time of the death, and either been pregnant or entitled to Child Benefit for a dependent child.
For deaths on or after 30 August 2018 — the date of the Supreme Court ruling — the standard and higher rate payments both apply. The 2023 legislation also opened the possibility of backdated claims for deaths occurring before that date in some circumstances; if this applies to you, contact the Bereavement Service helpline for advice before assuming you are not eligible.
You may find that you’re still entitled to claim even if you were not married — but only if you were raising a child or pregnant at the time your partner died. If you’re unsure whether this applies to your situation, it is worth calling the helpline before deciding not to claim.
Who cannot claim
You cannot get Bereavement Support Payment if you were divorced or legally separated from your partner when they died, if you were already in a new marriage or civil partnership at the time, or if your partner died before 6 April 2017. If the death occurred before that date, different rules apply — see the edge cases section below.
You also cannot claim if you were over State Pension age when your partner died. However, if you were under State Pension age at the date of death and turn State Pension age during the 18-month payment window, your payments continue unaffected.
Overseas and international claims
If your partner died outside the UK, you may still be able to claim provided they were ordinarily resident in the UK and paid sufficient UK National Insurance contributions, and you live in a country that has a social security agreement with the UK. This includes EU countries, Ireland, Switzerland, and a number of others.
If this applies to you, contact the International Pension Centre on +44 (0)191 206 9390 rather than the standard helpline. If you live in Northern Ireland, claims are handled separately through NIDirect.
Scotland: BSP is a reserved benefit and the eligibility rules are identical to those in England and Wales.
What most people get wrong
The rates have never been uprated
Bereavement Support Payment lump sums and monthly amounts have been frozen at the same figures since the benefit launched on 6 April 2017. The 2026/27 DWP benefit and pension rates schedule confirms no uprating for this year. In a written government response to a parliamentary petition in early 2026, DWP confirmed: “Following this year’s review, it is proposed that BSP will stay at the current rate for 2026/27.” This matters because the benefit has not kept pace with inflation since it was introduced, and the real-terms value of the payments is now significantly lower than when they were set.
Unmarried partners often assume they’re not eligible
Many people who were living with their partner without being married still believe the old “married only” rule applies. Since the 2018 Supreme Court judgment and the February 2023 legislation, this is no longer accurate for cohabiting parents. If you had a child together or were pregnant when your partner died, it is worth checking your eligibility rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
Missing the three-month window costs you payments, not just money
The three-month deadline is often described as a claim window, but the practical consequence of missing it is frequently misunderstood. You can still claim up to 21 months after the death — and you will still receive the lump sum. But for every month beyond three that passes before you claim, you lose one monthly payment from the total. If you claim at month ten, for example, you receive the lump sum and eight remaining monthly payments, not eighteen. The further you are past three months, the less you receive overall. Claiming late is always better than not claiming at all, but early action protects the full entitlement.
How much is Bereavement Support Payment?
The amount you receive depends on whether you were entitled to Child Benefit for a dependent child when your partner died — or were pregnant at the time.
| Higher rate (with children) | Standard rate (no children) | |
|---|---|---|
| Lump sum | £3,500 | £2,500 |
| Monthly payment | £350 | £100 |
| Duration | Up to 18 months | Up to 18 months |
| Maximum total | £9,800 | £4,300 |
These rates have been frozen since BSP launched in April 2017 and were not uprated in April 2026. The figures above are confirmed by the 2026/27 DWP benefit and pension rates schedule.
Which rate applies to you
The higher rate is determined by your Child Benefit entitlement at the date of your partner’s death, not by whether you have children in a general sense. If you had a child but had stopped claiming Child Benefit — for example because the child was over 16 and had left full-time education — you may receive the standard rate rather than the higher rate. If you were pregnant when your partner died, you are entitled to the higher rate.
When payments start and how they are made
Payments are usually made within a few weeks of your claim being approved. The first payment includes both the lump sum and your first monthly instalment together. Subsequent monthly payments are made automatically into the bank or building society account you provide with your claim.
How late claiming affects what you receive
| Month claim is made | Monthly payments received |
|---|---|
| Within 3 months | 18 |
| Month 6 | 15 |
| Month 10 | 11 |
| Month 18 | 3 |
| After month 21 | 0 (lump sum only — verify current position with DWP) |
If you are approaching the 21-month limit, contact the Bereavement Service helpline as soon as possible to confirm your exact entitlement before the window closes.
How to claim Bereavement Support Payment
You can claim online, by phone, or by post. There is no single correct route — choose whichever is most practical for your situation.
Claim online
You can apply through GOV.UK if you live in England or Wales. The online form can be completed in English or Welsh.
Apply for Bereavement Support Payment (English) – GOV.UK.
Apply for Bereavement Support Payment (Welsh) – GOV.UK.
Claim by phone
Bereavement Service helpline
- English: 0800 151 2012
- Welsh: 0800 731 0453
- Textphone (English): 0800 731 0464
- Textphone (Welsh): 0800 731 0456
- Relay UK: dial 18001 then 0800 151 2012
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Calling is also the right route if you live abroad or have questions about your eligibility before making a formal claim.
Claim by post
You can download the BSP1 claim form or ask the helpline to send you a paper copy.
BSP1 claim form (PDF) – GOV.UK.
BSP1 guidance notes (PDF) – GOV.UK.
If you don’t have the death certificate to hand, don’t delay — DWP can often verify the death independently, and submitting the form without it is better than missing the three-month window.
What you’ll need
- Your National Insurance number
- Your partner’s National Insurance number
- The date they died
- Bank or building society details for payment
- Marriage or civil partnership certificate, if you have one
- Death certificate, if not already sent to DWP
Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?
No. Bereavement Support Payment is completely tax-free. This applies to both the lump sum and the monthly payments.
BSP does not appear on a P60 or P45, does not affect your tax code, and does not need to be declared on a Self Assessment return. It does not reduce your personal allowance. You do not need to tell HMRC that you are receiving it.
Does Bereavement Support Payment affect Universal Credit?
The short answer is no — but the detail matters and is frequently misunderstood. The legacy information on this point has often been inaccurate, so the mechanics below are based on current DWP rules.
Monthly payments
Each monthly BSP payment is disregarded as income in the month it is paid. This means it does not reduce your Universal Credit award for that month. You can receive BSP and Universal Credit simultaneously without any adjustment to your UC.
The lump sum
The initial lump sum is disregarded as capital for 52 weeks from the date it is paid. During that period, it does not count towards the savings thresholds used to calculate means-tested benefits including Universal Credit.
After 12 months
If any of the lump sum remains unspent after 12 months, it then counts as part of your capital. If this takes your total savings above £6,000, it may begin to reduce your Universal Credit award. If your savings exceed £16,000, entitlement to most means-tested benefits — including UC — would stop entirely. This is only likely to affect you if you have retained a significant portion of the lump sum. Most people in this situation will not reach these thresholds.
This is the same position as for Housing Benefit and other means-tested benefits. The benefit cap does not apply to Bereavement Support Payment.
UC conditionality — an important detail
If you receive Universal Credit and your partner has died, you are not required to meet work-related requirements for the first six months after the bereavement. This applies regardless of whether you are also receiving BSP. Those with dependent children can request a further temporary suspension beyond six months; contact your work coach if this applies to your situation.
Pension Credit
If you are over State Pension age and receiving Pension Credit, BSP does not normally affect your entitlement. Most BSP claimants will be under State Pension age, as this is an eligibility condition for the payment.
Edge cases and common problems
Your partner died before 6 April 2017
Bereavement Support Payment does not apply to deaths before this date. If your partner died between 9 April 2001 and 5 April 2017, a different set of bereavement benefits applied: Widowed Parent’s Allowance if you had dependent children, and Bereavement Allowance if you were 45 or over without children. Both schemes are now closed to new claims but continue for existing recipients.
If your partner died before 9 April 2001, contact DWP directly as rules from an earlier system may apply.
Bereavement benefits before 2017 – GOV.UK.
Bereavement grant
Some people search for a “bereavement grant” when they mean either Bereavement Support Payment or the Funeral Expenses Payment — these are two separate DWP schemes. Funeral Expenses Payment helps with the cost of a funeral and has its own eligibility criteria. It is not the same as BSP and receiving one does not affect the other.
Funeral Expenses Payment – GOV.UK.
Death caused by work
If your partner died as a result of an accident at work or a prescribed industrial disease, the National Insurance contribution condition is waived entirely. You can claim BSP even if your partner had minimal or no NI history. This route is sometimes overlooked in cases where industrial illness developed over many years.
Approaching State Pension age
Eligibility for BSP is assessed at the date of your partner’s death, not the date you claim. If your partner died when you were under State Pension age, your payments will continue for the full 18 months even if you reach State Pension age during that period.
If your claim is refused
If DWP refuses your Bereavement Support Payment claim, the first step is to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. You must do this within one month of the date of the decision letter. DWP will review the decision internally and issue a revised decision notice.
If the outcome of the Mandatory Reconsideration is still negative, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. Citizens Advice can help you prepare both a Mandatory Reconsideration request and a tribunal appeal, and their support is free.
Citizens Advice – Bereavement Support Payment help.
When to take action
If your partner has recently died and you think you may be eligible, claim as soon as you are able to. The three-month window from the date of death is the point at which your full entitlement — 18 monthly payments — is protected.
If you have already passed three months, claim immediately. Each additional month of delay reduces the number of monthly payments you will receive. Claiming late is always better than not claiming at all, and you will still receive the lump sum regardless of when within the 21-month window you apply.
If you are unsure whether you qualify — particularly if you were not married to your partner — call the helpline before deciding not to claim. DWP advisers can help you assess eligibility, and a telephone call costs you nothing.
If your claim has been refused, act within one month to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. Missing that deadline can make it significantly harder to challenge the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get Bereavement Support Payment?
You can get BSP if your husband, wife, or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017, you were under State Pension age when they died, and they paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in any single tax year. Cohabiting parents with dependent children may also qualify following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling and legislation enacted in 2023.
How much is Bereavement Support Payment in 2026?
The higher rate pays a £3,500 lump sum followed by 18 monthly payments of £350 — a total of £9,800. The standard rate pays a £2,500 lump sum and 18 payments of £100 — a total of £4,300. Both rates are unchanged for 2026/27.
Can I get Bereavement Support Payment if I wasn’t married?
You may be able to claim if you were living with your partner and you were raising a child together or were pregnant when they died. This applies to deaths on or after 30 August 2018. If you’re unsure whether your circumstances qualify, it is worth calling the Bereavement Service helpline before assuming you’re not eligible.
Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?
No. BSP is completely tax-free. It does not affect your tax code, does not appear on a P60, and does not need to be declared on a Self Assessment return.
Does Bereavement Support Payment affect Universal Credit?
No. Monthly payments are disregarded as income in the month they are paid. The lump sum is disregarded as capital for 52 weeks. After 12 months, any unspent portion of the lump sum counts as capital and may affect means-tested benefits if it takes your savings above £6,000, but this only applies if you retain a significant portion of the payment.
How long does it take to get Bereavement Support Payment?
Payments are usually made within a few weeks of your claim being approved. The first payment includes both the lump sum and your first monthly instalment.
What happens if I miss the 3-month deadline?
You can still claim up to 21 months after the death and you will still receive the lump sum. However, each month beyond three that passes before you claim reduces the number of monthly payments you receive. At month ten, for example, you would receive eleven monthly payments rather than eighteen.
How long does Bereavement Support Payment last?
BSP is paid for up to 18 months after the initial lump sum. If you claim late, the remaining payments cover whatever time is left within that 18-month window from the date of death.
What if my partner died before April 2017?
BSP does not apply. You may have been eligible for Widowed Parent’s Allowance (with dependent children) or Bereavement Allowance (if you were 45 or over). Both are closed to new claims but continue for existing recipients. Contact DWP for details of what you may still be entitled to.
Can I get BSP if my partner died abroad?
Possibly. Your partner must have been ordinarily resident in the UK and paid sufficient UK National Insurance contributions. You must live in a country with a UK social security agreement. Contact the International Pension Centre on +44 (0)191 206 9390 for overseas claims.
How do I appeal if my BSP claim is refused?
Request a Mandatory Reconsideration from DWP within one month of the refusal decision. If the reconsideration is also unsuccessful, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. Citizens Advice can assist with both stages free of charge.
Next steps
- Universal Credit – GOVexplained
- Help with rent: Housing Benefit and Universal Credit explained – GOVexplained
- Funeral Expenses Payment – GOVexplained
- Pension Credit – GOVexplained
Sources
- Bereavement Support Payment – GOV.UK
- Benefit and pension rates 2026/27 – GOV.UK
- Bereavement Support Payment briefing CBP-7887 – House of Commons Library
- Raise Bereavement Support Payment and extend beyond 18 months – Parliament petitions
- BSP1 claim form (PDF) – GOV.UK
- BSP1 guidance notes (PDF) – GOV.UK
- Bereavement Support Payment – Citizens Advice