Bereavement Support Payment in the UK: Who Can Claim and How to Apply

Bereavement Support Payment can help if your husband, wife, civil partner or eligible cohabiting partner has died and you are under State Pension age. It is not means-tested, but the rules on who can claim, when to apply and what evidence you need matter.

What is Bereavement Support Payment?

Bereavement Support Payment is a DWP payment for some people whose partner has died. It replaced older bereavement benefits for new claims. The purpose is simple: to give some financial support in the months after a death, when income may fall and costs often rise.

It is not designed to cover every cost after a death, and it is separate from other help such as Funeral Expenses Payment or Child Benefit changes. That is why it helps to look at it early rather than assuming it will happen automatically.

Who can claim Bereavement Support Payment?

In general, you may be able to claim if, when your partner died, you were:

• under State Pension age
• living in the UK, or in a country that pays bereavement benefits
• married, in a civil partnership, or living together as if married in the circumstances allowed by the current rules

Your partner must also usually have paid enough Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions, or have died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.

The point many people miss is that Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested. Your savings and most earnings do not decide whether you can claim it. That makes it different from some other forms of support.

Can unmarried partners claim?

Sometimes, yes. GOV.UK says that if you were living with your partner as if you were married, one of the following usually must have applied when they died:

• you were getting Child Benefit for a child living with you
• you had been told you were entitled to Child Benefit for a child living with you, even if you chose not to receive the payment
• you were pregnant

If the Child Benefit was in your partner's name, you may need to make a new Child Benefit claim in your own name before applying.

Because this area has changed over time, it is sensible to check the latest GOV.UK guidance if your circumstances are unusual, especially if you are asking about backdated payments.

Is there a deadline to apply?

Yes. This is one of the most important parts.

You usually need to claim within 21 months of your partner's death. But if you want the full amount available, you normally need to claim within 3 months.

That means delay can cost money.

If it has been more than 21 months, GOV.UK says you may still be able to claim in some cases if the cause of death was only confirmed recently. In that situation, contact the Bereavement Service rather than assuming you are too late.

What do you need to apply?

GOV.UK says you will usually need:

• your National Insurance number
• your bank or building society details
• the date your partner died
• your partner's National Insurance number

You can apply:

• online
• by phone through the Bereavement Service helpline
• by post using form BSP1

If you live in Northern Ireland, the application route is different, so it is worth checking the NI Direct guidance rather than following the Great Britain process.

What if you are not sure you qualify?

Claim anyway if the uncertainty is about your partner's National Insurance record. GOV.UK is clear that you can still make a claim if you are not sure whether enough National Insurance was paid. The Bereavement Service will assess it.

People often rule themselves out too early because they assume they know the answer. That is a mistake, especially where employment history, self-employment or illness complicated things.

How does it fit with other bereavement help?

Bereavement Support Payment is only one part of the picture. Depending on your situation, you may also need to check:

Type of help	What it is for	Where to check
Funeral Expenses Payment	Help with certain funeral costs if you qualify	GOV.UK
Child Benefit changes	Updating claims after a death	GOV.UK
Universal Credit	Household income and benefit changes	GOV.UK
State Pension or other pension changes	Different rules apply depending on the pension	GOV.UK / provider

If you are trying to keep track of all of this while grieving, a tool like GetPassage can help you organise what has been done and what still needs attention, without turning the process into more paperwork.

Common reasons people get stuck

A claim can feel straightforward on paper but difficult in real life. Common issues include:

1. The paperwork is in the wrong person's name

This is especially common where Child Benefit, rent or bills were handled by the partner who died.

2. You assume you are not eligible because you have savings

Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested, so savings alone do not automatically rule you out.

3. You leave it because everything else feels urgent

The claim window is generous compared with some tasks, but the amount you receive can still be affected if you wait too long.

4. You confuse it with older bereavement benefits

Older benefits still exist for some people already receiving them, but new claims usually fall under Bereavement Support Payment instead.

A practical next-step checklist

If you think Bereavement Support Payment might apply, do this next:

1. Check whether you were under State Pension age when your partner died.
2. Gather both National Insurance numbers if you can.
3. Confirm whether you were married, in a civil partnership, or eligible as a cohabiting partner.
4. Check whether Child Benefit needs to be moved into your name.
5. Apply online or call the Bereavement Service.
6. Then review what other support might apply, including funeral help and benefit changes.

Final thought

Bereavement Support Payment will not remove the pressure of losing a partner, but it can reduce one source of stress. If you may be entitled, act early. This is one of those tasks where waiting rarely helps.

For the latest eligibility details and claim routes, use the current GOV.UK Bereavement Support Payment guidance before you submit your application.