This Disability Alliance factsheet is a basic introduction to bereavement benefits. You can find out more detailed information in Disability Rights UK's Disability Rights Handbook, available to buy at www.radar-shop.org.uk/.
All our publications are available at www.disabilityalliance.org/shop.htm. You can also place an order by contacting Disability Rights UK on 020 7247 8776 (this is not an advice line) or by fax on 020 7247 8765. All our factsheets are available at www.disabilityalliance.org/fact.htm.
There are three benefits available if your partner has died. These are bereavement allowance, bereavement payment and widowed parents allowance.
This is a weekly taxable benefit paid to you for 52 weeks, from the date of your husband, civil partner or wife's death. You must be over age 45 but under pension age when your husband, civil partner or wife dies.
The amount you get depends on your age and your spouse or civil partner's contribution record (but it can also be paid if he or she died as a result of an industrial accident or prescribed industrial disease).
You cannot get bereavement allowance if you are in receipt of widowed parent's allowance but you can get it after widowed parent's allowance ceases to be paid.
You also cannot get bereavement allowance once you have reached the retirement pension age.
This is a tax free lump sum paid to you when your husband, civil partner or wife has died. Payment depends on your spouse or civil partner's contribution record (but it can also be paid if he or she died as a result of an industrial accident or prescribed industrial disease).
It cannot be paid to you once you reach retirement pension age unless your husband/wife was not entitled to retirement pension based on her/his own contributions when s/he died.
Widowed parent's allowance is paid if you are a widow/widower having care of a child or children or are a widow expecting a child.
It is a weekly contributory benefit based on your spouse or civil partner's contribution record (but it can also be paid if he or she died as a result of an industrial accident or prescribed industrial disease).
Payment stops when you reach pension age.
These are paid if you or your partner take responsibility for the costs of a funeral. To find out more see Factsheet F41 - the social fund.
You claim all of these benefits on form BB1, available from your local Department for Work and Pensions office (DWP) or Jobcentre Plus office.
You can also claim bereavement benefits by ringing the national claim number (0800 055 6688; textphone 0800 023 4888) or download a form from www.direct.gov.uk.
You can also call the Bereavement Service to find out if you can get help with funeral costs or with other benefits. If you are eligible for help the Service takes claims for Bereavement Benefit and Social Fund Funeral Payments over the telephone.
The Bereavement Service numbers are:
Phone: 0845 606 0265
Phone: 0845 606 0275 (Welsh)
Textphone: 0845 606 0285
Textphone: 0845 606 0295 (Welsh)
In Northern Ireland you can get a form BB1 from the Pensions Service, Windsor House any Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office or the Benefits Shop. You can find out more information by going to the NI Direct website at www.nidirect.gov.uk.
You can get help and information at your local advice centre, such as a Citizens Advice Bureau. You can get more information about where to get personal advice from our Factsheet F15 - Finding a local advice centre, available at www.disabilityalliance.org/f15.htm.
20 April 2011