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> Bereavement Allowance
This benefit used to be called Widow's Pension. It is dealt with by Job Centre Plus - you can find your local office here
A Bereavement Allowance is:
• Based on your late partner's NI contributions
• Paid for 52 weeks from the date of bereavement
• Paid in regular amounts
You can get it if you are:
• a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who was aged 45 or over when your partner died
and
• you are not bringing up children
If you are bringing up children, you should check your entitlement to Widowed Parent's Allowance
How much is it?
The rate depends on your age at the time of your partner's death or when Widowed Parent's Allowance stops. These are the maximum weekly rates:
| Age |
Rate |
45 |
£26.19 |
46 |
£32.30 |
47 |
£38.41 |
48 |
£44.52 |
49 |
£50.63 |
50 |
£56.75 |
51 |
£62.86 |
52 |
£68.97 |
53 |
£75.08 |
54 |
£81.19 |
55 - pension age |
£87.30 |
Other useful information
If you are aged under 45 and do not have a dependent child or children you cannot get either Widowed Parent's Allowance or Bereavement Allowance
• If you were over state pension age when you were widowed you may get extra Retirement Pension based on your husband or wife's NI contributions
• If your husband or wife died as a result of their job, you may be able to get bereavement benefits even if they did not pay enough NI
• You cannot get bereavement benefits if you were divorced from your husband or wife
• You cannot get bereavement benefits if you remarry or if you
live with a partner as if you are married to them (in Scotland, special
habit and repute provisions apply)
• Bereavement benefits are not affected if you work
• The amount of Bereavement Allowance you get is based on your age when you were widowed or when Widowed Parent's Allowance ends
How to claim
Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.
Contact your local
office for a claim form.
Or you can download a Bereavement Benefit claim form here
You will need proof of identity to make a claim, and may also need documents to support any evidence you give about your circumstances.