What happens to Universal Credit when someone dies

Last updated 12 July 2026

Reviewed by the After Loss Guide editorial team · updated 12 July 2026

Researched from primary sources. See our editorial policy.

When someone who claims Universal Credit dies, or when a partner or child on the claim dies, the claim has to change. Exactly what happens depends on who died and whether it was a single or joint claim. In many cases the DWP pays a bereavement run-on – it keeps certain elements of the award going for a short period so that a bereaved household is not left with a sudden drop in income.

The rules are set out in the DWP’s own staff guidance and are more generous than many people expect. This guide explains what happens when a single claimant dies, what happens to a joint claim when one partner dies, what happens when a child or other household member dies, how the bereavement run-on works and how long it lasts, and how to report a death to the DWP – including how this fits alongside the Tell Us Once service.

The short version:

  • A single claimant dies – the claim ends. There are no further payments, and any payment made after the date of death counts as an overpayment.
  • A partner on a joint claim dies – the surviving partner keeps getting the joint rate for a 3-month bereavement run-on, then re-declares their circumstances to continue on a single award.
  • A child or other household member dies – the extra amounts for that person continue for the same 3-month run-on before the award is adjusted.
  • Reporting the death – Tell Us Once notifies the DWP to cancel Universal Credit; a surviving partner should also report the change through their own online journal or by calling the Universal Credit helpline.

What happens when a single Universal Credit claimant dies

When a person who claims Universal Credit on their own dies, their claim ends. The death is a change of circumstances that removes their entitlement, and for the purposes of working out the final award, the DWP treats the death as if it happened at the beginning of the assessment period in which the person died. There are no further payments due after that.

This matters for anyone dealing with the estate. If a Universal Credit payment lands in the deceased’s account after the date of death, it is automatically classed as an overpayment. The DWP does not need to make a formal overpayment decision in this situation – the money is recoverable, and it will be referred to the department’s Debt Management team. Where the person died leaving an estate, the DWP becomes a creditor of that estate and may reclaim recoverable overpayments, Social Fund loans, and any penalties from it. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)

For the executor or administrator, the practical point is simple: report the death promptly so that payments stop cleanly. The longer a claim runs on after a death without being reported, the larger any overpayment that has to be untangled later.

What happens to a joint claim when one partner dies

If two people claim Universal Credit together as a couple and one of them dies, the surviving partner does not lose everything at once. The DWP pays a bereavement run-on at the joint rate, so the surviving partner keeps receiving Universal Credit as though their partner were still part of the household for a set period.

The run-on lasts 3 months – meaning the assessment period in which the partner died, plus the following two assessment periods. During this time the award continues to be calculated as if the couple were both still on the claim. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)

The DWP needs to verify the identity of the person who died – usually through the death certificate or a notification from Tell Us Once or the Bereavement Service – before the run-on can be paid from the first assessment period. Provide any outstanding evidence as soon as you can so there is no delay.

What the surviving partner does after the run-on

When the 3-month run-on ends, the surviving partner does not have to start a brand-new claim from scratch. Instead, they re-declare their circumstances so that the DWP can convert the joint award into a single award. The department should also offer to delay the next Claimant Commitment review interview until 6 months after the death, so that a bereaved person is not pushed straight back into job-search conditions.

Two situations change the picture:

  • If the surviving partner forms a new couple with someone else during the run-on, the bereavement run-on ends at that point.
  • If the surviving partner is over State Pension age, they can receive Universal Credit for the 3-month run-on, after which Universal Credit ends. They can then claim Pension Credit and pension-age Housing Benefit instead. They can also choose to switch to Pension Credit at any point before the run-on ends. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)
Who died What happens to the Universal Credit claim
Single claimant Claim ends; no further payments; post-death payments are overpayments
One partner on a joint claim 3-month run-on at joint rate, then re-declare for a single award (no new claim needed)
A child on the claim Child element and related amounts continue for the 3-month run-on, then stop
A non-dependant in the household Run-on applies if they were part of the housing cost calculation

What happens when a child on the claim dies

Losing a child is the hardest bereavement of all, and the benefit system does not force a household’s income down straight away. If a child included in a Universal Credit claim dies, the extra amounts paid for that child continue for the 3-month bereavement run-on – the assessment period in which the child died and the following two assessment periods.

During the run-on, the following continue:

  • the child element (the additional amount for the child), and
  • the disabled child addition, if it was in payment for that child.

If the family was receiving help with registered childcare costs for the child before they died, that help continues until the end of the second assessment period after the one in which the death occurred. This also applies where a newborn baby dies within the same assessment period they were born – including a baby who died shortly after birth before the parents had added them to the claim. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)

Once the run-on ends, the additional payments for the child stop and the award is adjusted automatically. The parents do not need to make a fresh claim for the change to take effect.

A bereaved parent is also not expected to keep looking for work in the immediate aftermath. Work-related requirements can be switched off, and main carers can access this easement once every 6 months for a period of 2 years from the date of a child’s death. If you have a Claimant Commitment, tell your work coach through your journal that you have been bereaved so that these easements can be applied.

How the bereavement run-on works

The bereavement run-on is the mechanism that keeps a Universal Credit award from dropping the moment a member of the household dies. It applies following the death of a partner, a child, a qualifying young person, a person the claimant cared for, or certain non-dependants. In each case the principle is the same: payments that would otherwise reduce or stop are held at the pre-death level for a short period. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)

Key points:

  • The run-on period is 3 months – the assessment period in which the person died plus the following two assessment periods.
  • It can apply even if the person who died was part of the claim only within the first assessment period, provided the required evidence is supplied and verified.
  • If the claimant was receiving a carer element for someone who then dies, that carer amount also continues for the 3-month run-on before stopping.
  • Any earnings owed to the person who died and received after their death are treated as belonging to their estate and are disregarded during the run-on.

You may see older articles online stating that the Universal Credit bereavement run-on was scrapped. The current DWP staff guidance, deposited in Parliament, sets out the 3-month run-on in detail, so treat any claim that it no longer exists with caution and check with the DWP for your own circumstances.

How to report a death to the DWP

There are two routes to tell the DWP that a Universal Credit claimant or someone on their claim has died. They work alongside each other, and for a surviving partner it is worth using both.

1. Tell Us Once. When you register the death, the registrar will offer the free Tell Us Once service, which reports the death to most government departments in a single step. Tell Us Once notifies the DWP to cancel benefits, including Universal Credit. This is the simplest way to make sure the deceased’s own claim is closed. If you cannot use Tell Us Once (for example, in Northern Ireland, where it is not available), you can call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to cancel the person’s benefits. (Source: gov.uk – report a death without Tell Us Once)

2. Report it on the surviving partner’s own claim. Tell Us Once closes the deceased’s records, but it does not do everything for a surviving partner’s continuing claim. If you were part of a joint Universal Credit claim, report the death directly through your own online journal, or by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). This is how the DWP registers that your joint claim needs to become a single one, applies the bereavement run-on, and switches off your work-search requirements. (Source: gov.uk – contact Universal Credit)

Report the death as soon as you reasonably can. Prompt reporting prevents overpayments building up on the deceased’s own claim, and it makes sure the run-on and any easements are applied to a surviving partner’s claim from the earliest possible assessment period.

How Universal Credit fits with Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once and Universal Credit are separate processes, and it helps to be clear about which does what. Tell Us Once is a notification service – it tells the DWP, HMRC, the local council, and other bodies that a death has occurred, which triggers the cancellation of the deceased’s own benefits. For a person who claimed Universal Credit on their own, that single notification is enough to close the claim.

Where the two processes come apart is on a joint claim. Tell Us Once will report the death to the DWP, but the actions specific to your continuing claim – confirming you now claim as a single person, having the bereavement run-on applied, re-declaring your circumstances at the end of it, and pausing your Claimant Commitment – happen through your Universal Credit account. Use your journal or the helpline to make sure those steps are picked up. For a full explanation of what Tell Us Once covers and what it leaves to you, see our guide to Tell Us Once.

Payments, overpayments, and repayment

Getting the timing right protects you from having to repay money later. The rules on payments after a death depend on whether the person who died was a single claimant or part of a couple.

  • Single claimant. No payments are due after the date of death. Any Universal Credit paid into the deceased’s account afterwards is automatically an overpayment and is recovered by the DWP, usually from the estate.
  • Joint claim. The surviving partner keeps receiving the joint rate for the 3-month run-on, so payments during that window are correct, not overpayments. If a genuine overpayment does arise from the death of one partner, the DWP makes an overpayment decision in the normal way, and it is recoverable from the surviving partner.
  • Housing costs paid to a landlord. If Universal Credit housing costs were paid directly to a landlord and continued after the tenant’s death, the DWP can recover the overpaid amount from the landlord only where the landlord knew about the death and failed to report it. Otherwise it is recovered from the estate or a surviving partner. (Source: DWP – Death and bereavement guidance)

If you are contacted about an overpayment on a deceased person’s claim and you are not sure whether it is correct or how it should be repaid from the estate, get free, independent advice from Citizens Advice before agreeing to anything.

Other bereavement benefits to check

If you were the partner of the person who died, dealing with the Universal Credit claim is often only part of the picture. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to other support:

  • Bereavement Support Payment – if your spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner died on or after 6 April 2017, this is a tax-free lump sum plus up to 18 monthly payments, worth up to £9,800 at the higher rate. Importantly, the lump sum is disregarded for Universal Credit for the first 12 months, so claiming it does not immediately reduce your Universal Credit. Claim within three months of the death for the full amount.
  • Funeral Expenses Payment – if you receive Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit, you may get help with burial or cremation costs plus up to £1,000 towards other funeral expenses. Apply within six months of the funeral.
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance – for those whose partner died before 6 April 2017 and who have dependent children. If you receive it, note that it counts as income for Universal Credit.
  • Guardian’s Allowance – if you are now raising a child whose parents have both died. Unlike most payments, this is disregarded in full for Universal Credit.
  • Attendance Allowance – if you are over State Pension age and have care needs of your own, you may be able to claim this in your own right. It does not count as income for Pension Credit and can increase some means-tested benefits.
  • Carer’s Allowance – if you were caring for the person who died, Carer’s Allowance runs on for up to 8 weeks after their death, and the carer element of your Universal Credit continues for a period too.

For an overview of all the financial support available after a death, see our bereavement benefits hub.

Common questions

Does Universal Credit stop immediately when a partner dies?

No. If you were claiming Universal Credit jointly as a couple, your payments continue at the joint rate for a 3-month bereavement run-on – the assessment period in which your partner died plus the following two assessment periods. After that, you re-declare your circumstances and continue on a single award.

Do I have to make a new Universal Credit claim after my partner dies?

Not usually. According to DWP guidance, when the bereavement run-on ends the surviving partner re-declares their circumstances so a single award can be made without a fresh claim. Report the death through your journal or the Universal Credit helpline so this is set up correctly. If you are unsure what your account is asking you to do, contact the helpline on 0800 328 5644 or get advice from Citizens Advice.

What happens to the child element if a child dies?

The child element, any disabled child addition, and help with registered childcare costs continue for the 3-month bereavement run-on before the award is adjusted. A bereaved parent is also not required to look for work during this period, and the work-search easement can be accessed once every 6 months for two years from the date of death.

Will I have to repay Universal Credit paid after a death?

For a single claimant, yes – any payment made after the date of death is an overpayment and is recovered, usually from the estate. For a joint claim, payments during the bereavement run-on are correct and are not overpayments. If a genuine overpayment does arise, the DWP recovers it from the surviving partner or the estate.

How do I tell the DWP that a Universal Credit claimant has died?

Use the free Tell Us Once service when you register the death, which notifies the DWP to cancel Universal Credit, or call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012. If you were on a joint claim, also report the death through your own online journal or the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 so your continuing claim is handled correctly.

I am over State Pension age – what happens to my Universal Credit?

You can receive Universal Credit for the 3-month bereavement run-on after your partner dies. When the run-on ends, Universal Credit stops, and you can claim Pension Credit and pension-age Housing Benefit instead. You can also choose to switch to Pension Credit at any point before the run-on ends.

Summary

  • Single claimant dies: the claim ends, no further payments, post-death payments are overpayments recoverable from the estate.
  • Partner on a joint claim dies: a 3-month bereavement run-on at the joint rate, then re-declare circumstances for a single award – no new claim needed.
  • Child or other household member dies: the extra amounts for that person continue for the 3-month run-on, then stop.
  • Work-search requirements can be switched off following a bereavement, with the easement for main carers of a bereaved child available every 6 months for two years.
  • Reporting the death: use Tell Us Once or the DWP Bereavement Service (0800 151 2012); a surviving partner should also use their Universal Credit journal or the helpline (0800 328 5644).

The exact effect on your award depends on your household and your assessment period dates. If anything is unclear, report the death through your Universal Credit journal, call the helpline, or get free advice from Citizens Advice.

Rules verified July 2026 from DWP – Death and bereavement guidance, gov.uk – report a death without Tell Us Once, and gov.uk – contact Universal Credit.

Sources