Due to You
  • UK-wide
DWP

Bereavement Support Payment

A lump sum plus up to 18 months of payments from the DWP for people under State Pension age whose spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner has died.

Headline rate£3,500higher rate — initial lump sum (with children or pregnant at death) (one off)
Written by Due to You Editorial
Reviewed by D2Y Editorial Team
Last updated (2026-04-20)
Sourced from: GOV.UK

Overview

Bereavement Support Payment is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people under State Pension age whose spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner has died. It is paid in two parts: an initial lump sum, followed by up to 18 monthly instalments. There are two tiers. The higher rate is paid to claimants who were responsible for a child at the time of their partner's death — including claimants who were pregnant — and the lower rate is paid to claimants without dependent children. Cohabiting partners have been eligible since February 2023, provided they were responsible for a child with the deceased at the time of death. The payment depends on the deceased partner having paid a minimum amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any tax year since 6 April 1975, or having died from a work-related accident or disease. Claims should normally be made within 21 months of the death, although the lump sum amount is reduced if claimed more than 12 months after the death. Bereavement Support Payment is tax-free, does not count as income for most other means-tested benefits during the 18-month payment period, and does not affect the benefit cap. Individual eligibility and tier are determined by the DWP. This page references figures and criteria from the primary GOV.UK source; the authoritative source for any individual award remains the DWP.

Applies in UK-wide. Administered by DWP. This page is general information; contact DWP for your individual circumstances.

Rates

RateAmountPeriodSource
Higher rate — initial lump sum (with children or pregnant at death)£3,500ONE OFF[GOV.UK]
Higher rate — monthly payments (with children or pregnant at death)£350MONTHLY[GOV.UK]
Lower rate — initial lump sum (no children)£2,500ONE OFF[GOV.UK]
Lower rate — monthly payments (no children)£100MONTHLY[GOV.UK]

Eligibility criteria include

  • HOUSEHOLD
    Claimant must have been married to, in a civil partnership with, or living together as married with, the deceased. [GOV.UK]
  • AGE
    Claimant must have been under State Pension age when the partner died. [GOV.UK]
  • OTHER
    The deceased partner must have paid a minimum amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any one tax year since 6 April 1975, or died from a work-related accident or disease. [GOV.UK]
  • OTHER
    Claims should normally be made within 21 months of the partner's death; claims within 3 months get the maximum amount, after which the initial lump sum may be reduced. [GOV.UK]
  • RESIDENCE
    Claimant must normally be living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits. [GOV.UK]
  • OTHER
    Cohabiting claimants need to have been receiving (or entitled to) Child Benefit for a child with the deceased, or been pregnant by them, at the time of death, to qualify for the higher rate. [GOV.UK]

Sources