Bereavement Payment (formerly Widow's Payment)

Last updated April 2005

What is it?
Can I get it?
What else should I know?
How much will I get?
How do I claim?
You can download a bereavement benefit claim form
More information
Other help

This benefit is dealt with by Jobcentre Plus.

What is it?

A new system of bereavement benefits for men and women was introduced in April 2001. The new system will not affect women who were already getting benefits under the previous scheme as long as they continue to qualify under the rules.

A Bereavement Payment is:

• based on your late husband or wife's NI contributions
• a one off payment.

Can I get it?

Are you:

• under age 60 for women, 65 for men (state pension age)? Or
• the widow of a man or widower of a woman who was not entitled to a category A Retirement Pension when they died?
• the widow or widower of a spouse who has paid NI contributions?

If YES to two, claim a Bereavement Payment.

What else should I know?

• if you were over state pension age when you were widowed you may get extra Retirement Pension based on your husband or wife's NI contributions
• if your husband or wife died as a result of their job, you may be able to get bereavement benefits even if they did not pay enough NI contributions
• you cannot get bereavement benefits if you were divorced from your husband or wife
• you cannot get bereavement benefits if you remarry or if you live with a partner as if you are married to them (in Scotland, special habit and repute provisions apply)
• bereavement benefits are not affected if you work

If you have recently come from abroad there are some extra rules.

How much will I get?

A lump sum of £2,000.00.

How do I claim?

Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.

Contact your social security office for a claim form. Find your local office on this site or look in the phone book under Benefits Agency, Jobcentre Plus or social security.

It is important that we can be sure of your identity when you make a claim. We may need to ask you about your background and look at any official documents you have to support the information you give.

You can download a Bereavement Benefit claim form

You can download a bereavement benefit claim form in PDF format. This form does not apply in Northern Ireland. Please choose a form from the options below.

You can download documents marked with a using Adobe Acrobat Reader, available free of charge.

This form only works in version 4, or above, of Adobe Acrobatreader.

If you want to fill in the form on screen (923k).

• We recommend that you save this file to your computer hard disk or a floppy disk before completing it.
• To save a copy of the file to disk right click with your mouse on the link below and choose the 'Save Target As' option.
• You can not save the form once you have opened it in an internet browser.
• After you have completed the form on screen, you will have to print and sign it.

If you want to print out a form to fill in with a pen (184k)

The form comes with notes that will help you fill in the form and tell you where to send the completed form.

If you are having technical difficulties:

• downloading the form
• navigating around the form
• moving from page to page, or
• printing a hard copy

Please contact the eService Helpdesk.

More information

For more information or leaflets, get in touch with your local council, Jobcentre Plus office or your social security office.

Other help

Funeral Payments
Income Support
Jobseeker's Allowance

Remember that this website is only a general guide to benefits and schemes, and is not a full and authoritative statement of the law. We have made every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct at the date shown at the top of the page. However, changes in the law may make the website become gradually less accurate.