If your spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner has died, you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment (BSP). This is a tax-free government benefit that provides a lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly payments. It is the main financial support available to bereaved partners in the UK, and you do not need to be on a low income to qualify.
The amount you receive depends on whether you have dependent children. At the higher rate, you could receive up to £9,800 in total: a £3,500 lump sum plus £350 a month for 18 months. You must claim within 21 months of the death, and claiming within the first three months ensures you receive the full amount.
This guide covers who qualifies, current payment rates, how to claim, what happens if you claim late, and how BSP interacts with your other benefits and pension.
What is Bereavement Support Payment?
Bereavement Support Payment is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people whose husband, wife, civil partner, or cohabiting partner has died. It replaced three older benefits (Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment, and Widowed Parent’s Allowance) for deaths on or after 6 April 2017.
Two features make BSP different from most government support:
- It is not means-tested. Your income and savings do not affect whether you qualify or how much you receive. A higher-rate taxpayer and someone on Universal Credit can both claim the same amount.
- It is tax-free. The lump sum and monthly payments are not counted as taxable income, and for 12 months they are disregarded when working out your other benefits.
It is paid in two parts: a single lump sum in the first month, then up to 18 monthly instalments. (Source: gov.uk – Bereavement Support Payment)
Am I eligible?
To qualify for Bereavement Support Payment, all of the following conditions must apply. (Source: gov.uk – Bereavement Support Payment eligibility, last verified 19 June 2026.)
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Your relationship | You were married to, in a civil partnership with, or living with your partner as if married when they died. |
| Your age | You were under State Pension age when your partner died. |
| National Insurance | Your partner paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance for at least 25 weeks in any one tax year since 6 April 1975, or died because of a workplace accident or a disease caused by their work. |
| Residency | You were living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits when your partner died. |
| Not in prison | You cannot claim while you are in prison. |
If you were living together but not married
If you were cohabiting, meaning you were living together as if married but without a marriage or civil partnership, you can still claim, but only if one of the following applied when your partner died:
- You were receiving Child Benefit for a child you had together
- You were entitled to Child Benefit for a shared child (even if you had not claimed it)
- You were pregnant
This extension was introduced by the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023, which came into force on 9 February 2023. It followed legal challenges that found the previous exclusion of cohabiting parents unlawful. Cohabiting claimants who qualify receive the higher rate.
Who does not qualify
You cannot claim Bereavement Support Payment if you and your partner were not married, not in a civil partnership, and none of the cohabiting conditions above apply (for example, if you lived together without children). You also cannot claim if you had reached State Pension age when your partner died, though you may be entitled to extra State Pension instead.
If you are unsure whether your partner paid enough National Insurance, apply anyway. The DWP will check their contribution record for you. (Source: gov.uk – eligibility)
How much is Bereavement Support Payment?
Bereavement Support Payment is made up of a one-off lump sum paid in the first month, followed by up to 18 monthly payments. The amount depends on whether you qualify for the higher or standard rate.
| Rate | Lump sum | Monthly payments | Maximum total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher rate (you had dependent children, were entitled to Child Benefit, or were pregnant) | £3,500 | £350 × up to 18 months | £9,800 |
| Standard rate (married or in a civil partnership, without dependent children) | £2,500 | £100 × up to 18 months | £4,300 |
| Cohabiting partners (meeting the eligibility criteria above) | £3,500 | £350 × up to 18 months | £9,800 |
These rates apply for the 2026–27 tax year and are unchanged from 2025–26. (Source: gov.uk – Bereavement Support Payment: what you’ll get, last verified 19 June 2026.)
BSP is tax-free. You do not need to declare it on a tax return, and it does not count as taxable income. The payments go directly into your bank, building society, or credit union account.
The total of £9,800 or £4,300 assumes you claim within the first three months. Because the benefit only ever covers the 18 months from the date of death, claiming later means fewer monthly payments, as the deadlines below explain.
How to claim Bereavement Support Payment
You can apply for Bereavement Support Payment in three ways.
Online. This is usually the quickest method. Apply through the gov.uk Bereavement Support Payment page.
By phone. Call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). A Welsh-language line is available on 0800 731 0453. If you use Relay UK, dial 18001 followed by 0800 151 2012. A BSL video relay service is also available.
By post. Download form BSP1 from gov.uk, or request a copy by phone, then send it to the address on the form.
If you are abroad, call the International Pension Centre on +44 (0) 191 206 9390. If the death occurred in Northern Ireland, apply through nidirect.gov.uk.
What you will need
Have the following to hand before you start:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your partner’s National Insurance number
- The date your partner died
- Your bank or building society account details
You do not need to send a copy of the death certificate, though having one nearby helps you confirm dates. (Source: gov.uk – how to claim)
What happens if I claim late?
Bereavement Support Payment only covers the 18 months from the date of death, so the sooner you claim, the more you receive. The DWP sets out four windows. (Source: gov.uk – what you’ll get, last verified 19 June 2026.)
| When you claim | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Within 3 months of the death | The full lump sum and all 18 monthly payments |
| Between 3 and 12 months | The lump sum, plus the monthly payments still due within the 18-month window (you lose the earlier months) |
| Between 12 and 21 months | Some monthly payments only; you lose the lump sum entirely |
| After 21 months | You usually cannot claim at all |
A claim can be backdated by up to three months, which is why claiming within three months protects the full lump sum. The only exception to the 21-month cut-off is where the cause of death was confirmed late, for example after a lengthy inquest.
The practical message is simple: claim as early as you can. If you cannot face the paperwork yet, ask a trusted family member or friend to help you start. The difference between claiming in month one and month four can be hundreds of pounds.
If your claim is refused
If the DWP turns down your claim, or you think the rate or amount is wrong, you have the right to challenge the decision. The process has two stages.
First, ask for a mandatory reconsideration. This is a request for the DWP to look at the decision again. You must ask within one month of the date on your decision letter, by phone, in writing, or using the form on gov.uk. Explain why you think the decision is wrong, and include any evidence you have, such as proof of your relationship, your partner’s National Insurance record, or evidence that the death was work-related. The DWP will send you a Mandatory Reconsideration Notice with the outcome.
If you still disagree, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. You have one month from the date of the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice to lodge an appeal with HM Courts and Tribunals Service. The tribunal is independent of the DWP, and many benefit decisions are overturned at this stage. You can get free help preparing an appeal from Citizens Advice or a local welfare rights service. (Source: gov.uk – appeal a benefit decision)
A common reason for a refusal is the National Insurance condition. If your partner’s record is incomplete, or you believe credits or contributions are missing, it is worth asking the DWP to recheck rather than assuming the decision is final.
How and when you are paid
Your first payment, the lump sum, is usually made within a few weeks of your claim being approved, directly into the bank, building society, or credit union account you gave on the form. The monthly payments then follow on roughly the same date each month for up to 18 months.
You do not need to do anything to keep the payments coming once the claim is set up, and starting work, returning to work, or changing your hours does not affect the amount. If your bank details change, tell the Bereavement Service so payments are not interrupted. If you move abroad during the payment period, contact the International Pension Centre, because the rules on continuing payments depend on the country you move to.
If your partner died in service or from an industrial disease
You qualify for BSP automatically, without the National Insurance contribution test, if your partner died because of:
- An accident at work
- A disease caused by their work (for example, an industrial lung disease such as mesothelioma)
In these cases the contribution condition is treated as met, so you can claim even if your partner had paid little or no National Insurance. You will still need to meet the other eligibility rules (relationship, age, residency). If your partner’s death is linked to their work, mention this when you call the Bereavement Service so the right rate is applied. (Source: gov.uk – eligibility)
If your partner died as a result of service in HM Armed Forces, a separate war widow’s or widower’s pension may also be payable. See our guide to war pension and AFCS payments. That is entirely separate from BSP and can be claimed alongside it.
Bereavement Support Payment and other benefits
A common worry is whether claiming BSP will reduce your other benefits. For the first year, it is fully protected.
BSP does not affect your benefits for 12 months after your first payment. During that year, the lump sum and monthly payments are disregarded entirely; they do not count as income or capital for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or Income Support.
After 12 months, any money remaining from the lump sum can be counted as savings when you renew or make a new claim for a means-tested benefit. For Universal Credit, savings below £6,000 have no effect; between £6,000 and £16,000 your payment is gradually reduced; above £16,000 you lose entitlement.
You must tell your benefits office (for example, your local Jobcentre Plus) when you start receiving BSP. This is required even during the 12-month protection period. (Source: gov.uk – what you’ll get)
If you reach State Pension age during the 18-month payment period, your monthly payments may stop early. Check with the Bereavement Service helpline if this applies to you, and see our guide to what happens to a pension when someone dies for how your partner’s pension is handled.
Frequently asked questions
What if we were living together but not married?
Since February 2023, cohabiting partners can claim BSP under the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023, but only if you were receiving Child Benefit for a shared child, were entitled to Child Benefit, or were pregnant when your partner died. Living together without children does not currently qualify. This remains a point of active campaigning.
Does BSP affect Universal Credit?
For the first 12 months after your first BSP payment, it does not affect Universal Credit at all. After that, any unspent lump sum money counts towards your capital (savings). Below £6,000 there is no effect; between £6,000 and £16,000 you may receive a reduced amount; above £16,000 you lose entitlement.
What if my partner was self-employed?
Self-employed people pay Class 2 National Insurance contributions, which count towards BSP eligibility. If your partner was registered as self-employed and paid their contributions, you should qualify. If you are unsure whether they paid enough, apply anyway, because the DWP will check.
Can I claim backdated BSP?
A claim can be backdated by up to three months. Beyond that, you receive only the payments still due within the 18-month window from the date of death; you do not recover months that have already passed. The only exception is where the cause of death was confirmed late, for example after an inquest.
Can I claim if I have remarried or started a new relationship?
Yes. Starting a new relationship or remarrying does not affect your entitlement to BSP. Once payments have started, they continue for the full period regardless of changes to your relationship status.
Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?
No. BSP is tax-free. It does not need to be reported to HMRC and does not affect your income tax.
Other bereavement benefits and support
Bereavement Support Payment is one part of the financial support available after a death. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be entitled to:
- Funeral Expenses Payment: a means-tested grant to help with funeral costs if you are on qualifying benefits. It covers burial or cremation fees in full, plus up to £1,000 for other expenses. You must claim within six months of the funeral.
- Guardian’s Allowance: if you are raising a child whose parents have both died, you may receive £22.95 per week per child on top of Child Benefit (2025–26 rate). It is tax-free.
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance: if your partner died before 6 April 2017, you may still be receiving WPA rather than BSP. Our guide explains the current rate and what stops payments.
- War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension: if your partner died as a result of their Armed Forces service, you may be entitled to a separate tax-free pension on top of BSP.
- Council Tax reduction: if the person who died lived alone, their home may be exempt from Council Tax while the estate is settled. See our bereavement benefits hub for how the Class F exemption works.
- Tell Us Once: a free service that notifies multiple government departments about the death in a single step.
When you are ready to notify the DWP of the death, to stop State Pension, Universal Credit, and other benefits, see our guide to notifying the DWP when someone dies. If you need a grant of probate to access other assets, our probate guides explain when probate is required and how to apply. For a full overview of what financial support exists and what to do first, see our bereavement benefits hub.
Summary
Bereavement Support Payment is the main government benefit for people who have lost a spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner. It is tax-free, does not depend on your income or savings, and is worth up to £9,800 at the higher rate.
The single most important thing to remember: claim within three months of the death to receive the full amount. Call 0800 151 2012 or apply online at gov.uk.
Rates and eligibility last verified: 19 June 2026, from gov.uk – Bereavement Support Payment.