Bereavement Support Payment

You can claim Bereavement Support Payment if:

• Your husband, wife, or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017
• You were under State Pension age when your partner died
• Your partner paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year, or died as a result of an industrial accident or disease
• You were living in the UK or another qualifying country at the time of the death

BSP is not available to unmarried partners, regardless of how long the relationship lasted. If you were cohabiting but not married or in a civil partnership, you may be entitled to other benefits such as Universal Credit, but not BSP.

There are two rates of Bereavement Support Payment:

Higher rate (if you were pregnant at the time of death or entitled to Child Benefit for at least one child):

• Lump sum: £3,500
• 18 monthly payments of £350

Lower rate (all other eligible claimants):

• Lump sum: £2,500
• 18 monthly payments of £100

BSP is tax-free, does not count as income for most benefit purposes, and can be received alongside Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and most other benefits. It will not usually reduce your entitlement to other means-tested benefits.

Claim Bereavement Support Payment as soon as possible after the death — payments are only backdated to the date of the death if you claim within three months. After three months, you will only receive monthly payments from the date of your claim, and if you claim after 12 months, you may lose entitlement entirely.

You can claim:

• Online: via GOV.UK at gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/how-to-claim
• By phone: Call 0800 151 2012
• By post: Download form BSP1 from GOV.UK

You will need the deceased's National Insurance number, death certificate, and your bank account details. If the death is recent and you do not yet have the death certificate, submit the claim anyway and provide the certificate when available.