Bereavement Payment

Eligibility 

You may be able to get a £2,000 Bereavement Payment if your spouse or civil partner died before 6 April 2017. This is a one-off, tax-free, lump-sum payment.

If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.
 
You may be able to get Bereavement Payment if, when your husband, wife or civil partner died, you were either: 

  • under State Pension age 

  • over State Pension age and your husband, wife or civil partner was not entitled to a State Pension based on their own national insurance contributions 

Additionally, your husband, wife or civil partner must have either: 

  • paid enough National Insurance contributions 

  • died because of an industrial accident or disease 

When you can not get Bereavement Payment 

You can not get Bereavement Payment if any of the following are true: 

  • you were divorced from your husband, wife or civil partner 

  • you are living with another person as husband, wife or civil partner 

  • you are in prison 

Other bereavement benefits 

You may also be eligible for: 

You do not have to apply more than once - you will be considered for all bereavement benefits when you apply for one. 

If you are abroad 

If you have moved abroad contact the International Pension Centre to find out if you can claim. 

Bereavement and widows’ benefits if you are abroad 

Telephone: +44 191 21 87608 

Department for Work and Pensions 

Bereavement and widows’ benefits 

International Pension Centre 

Tyneview Park 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne 

NE98 1BA 

You must include your: 

  • full name 

  • date of birth 

  • National Insurance number 

See also: 

For further information: