Bereavement Payment
A Bereavement Payment is a £2,000 lump sum to help you at the time of your husband’s, wife’s or civil partner’s death.
If you're over State Pension age (currently 65 for men, 60 for women) you will not usually be able to get bereavement benefits. But if your husband, wife or civil partner was not getting a State Pension, you may be able to get a Bereavement Payment.
To be eligible, your husband, wife or civil partner must have paid enough National Insurance contributions while they were working.
Special rules apply if you do not live in the UK. See our section on pensions and benefits for pensioners living abroad. You will not pay tax on any Bereavement Payments you may receive.
The time for claiming Bereavement Payment for deaths on or after 1 April 2003 has been extended to 12 months. This time limit used to be three months. If you think you may be eligible fill in the claim form as soon as possible after the death.
Find out more about Bereavement Payments and get a claim form on the Jobcentre Plus website
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