Who is eligible for Bereavement Support Payment?
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In short: Widows, widowers and surviving civil partners under State Pension age whose spouse paid sufficient National Insurance when they died. You must have been married or in a civil partnership — cohabiting partners cannot claim.
Last reviewed:
Reviewed by Kaiser Khan
You must be under State Pension age at the date of death. Your spouse or civil partner needs a sufficient NI record — typically at least 25 weeks of contributions in one tax year, or death from an industrial accident or disease.
Higher rate requires entitlement to Child Benefit for a child living with you, or pregnancy at death. Standard rate applies otherwise.
See our Bereavement Support Payment guide and how-to claim page. Tell Us Once can notify multiple departments after a death.
Primary source: gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
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