Bereavement Support Payment, eligibility, amount and how to claim

Last reviewed June 2026 by Naomi Jackson

Short answer

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) replaced the old Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parent's Allowance in 2017. It's tax-free and doesn't affect other benefits for 12 months.

Who can claim

You can claim BSP if your spouse, civil partner or (since February 2023) cohabiting partner with shared children has died, AND they paid National Insurance for at least 25 weeks, OR died from an accident at work or work-related disease, AND you were under State Pension age when they died.

How much you get

There are two rates as of 2026:

Higher rate (with children, or pregnant when partner died): £3,500 lump sum + £350/month for 18 months
Standard rate (no children): £2,500 lump sum + £100/month for 18 months

How to claim

Claim within 3 months of the death to get the full amount; claims up to 21 months are still accepted but the lump sum may be reduced. Apply at gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment, by phone (0800 151 2012), or use the form sent after Tell Us Once.

Frequently asked questions

Does BSP affect Universal Credit or other benefits?

BSP is disregarded for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction and most other means-tested benefits for the first 12 months. After that the payments still don't count as income, but the lump sum may count as savings.

Can cohabiting partners claim?

Yes, since 9 February 2023, if you have a child together (under 20 in full-time education, or you were pregnant when your partner died). You can backdate claims to the death if the death was after 30 August 2018.

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