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Bereavement Allowance
The Bereavement Allowance is a weekly benefit paid to widows and widowers for up to 52 weeks following the death of their spouse.
The Bereavement Allowance is only payable if you were aged 45 or over when your spouse died and you are not responsible for a dependent child or children. If you are responsible for raising a child, then you should instead be making a claim for the Widowed Parents Allowance.
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Do I qualify?
You will qualify for the Bereavement Allowance if:
- You are a widow or widower whose spouse died on or after the 9 April 2001; and
- You were aged 45 or over when your late spouse died; and
- You were under pension age (e.g. 60 if youre a woman, 65 if youre a man) when your late spouse died; and either
- Your late spouse had made sufficient National Insurance Contributions throughout their working life, up until their death; or
- Your spouse died as a result of an industrial injury or disease, connected directly or indirectly to work
How much will I receive?
The full rate of Bereavement Allowance is £79.60 a week. However, the amount of Bereavement Allowance is reduced by 7% for each year, or part year, that you were under the age of 55 when your spouse died, therefore:
If you were
youll receive
55 or over
.£82.05 a week
54
..£76.31 a week
53
..£70.56 a week
52
..£64.82 a week
51
..£59.08 a week
50
..£53.33 a week
49
..£47.59 a week
48
..£41.85 a week
47
..£36.10 a week
46
..£30.36 a week
45
..£24.62 a week
However, depending on your late spouses National Insurance Contribution record, you may receive less than the amounts shown in the above table.
How do I claim?
You will need to complete the Bereavement Benefits claim pack (BB1) in order to make your claim.
You can obtain the Bereavement Benefits claim pack (BB1) by contacting your nearest Jobcentre Plus office.
Alternatively, you can download the claim pack from the Department for Work and Pensions website by logging on to www.dwp.gov.uk, or by clicking your mouse on the following link:
Please click here to download the Bereavement Benefits claim pack (BB1)
Is there anything else I should know?
In addition to the Bereavement Allowance, you may also be entitled to claim the Bereavement Payment for more information, please click here.
Your entitlement to Bereavement Benefits will cease of you remarry and you cannot re-qualify for them (even if you later get divorced). They are also suspended for any time that you spend co-habiting, but can be re-instated if you stop co-habiting.
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