Where the death of a spouse/civil partner occurred before 6 April 2017, the following benefits may be payable:

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA);
• Taxable weekly benefit
• Payable when the survivor was under SPA and had at least one child for whom they were able to receive child benefit
• Maximum payable is £117.10 per week
• Paid until the ceasing of child benefit, claimant remarries or 52 weeks after the death of the claimant’s spouse
• Bereavement Allowance
• Taxable weekly benefit
• Payable when the survivor was aged between 45 and Spa and was not bringing up any children
• Maximum payable is £117.10 per week
• Paid until 52 weeks after the death of the claimant’s spouse
• Bereavement Payment.
• One off tax free lump sum of £2,000
• The deceased was not entitled to receive a state pension and the survivor was under SPA

For a death after 6^th April 2017

Survivor may be able to claim bereavement support payment

To be eligible:

• The deceased spouse must have paid Class 1 or Class 2 NICs for at least 25 weeks in any one tax year prior to their death or their death must be as a result of a job-related accident or illness caused by their job; and
• The surviving spouse must be under SPA and living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits.

There are two rates of payment which are both tax free and paid for up to 18 months or SPA, whichever is first.

• Higher rate – is payable to claimants who are pregnant at the time of their spouse’s death 

– £3,500 initial payment plus £350 per month for up to 18 months

• Standard rate – paid to all other claimants

– £2,500 initial payment plus £100 per month for up to 18 months