Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is a tax-free government payment for people whose husband, wife, or civil partner has died. It replaced Widowed Parent’s Allowance and Bereavement Allowance in April 2017.
BSP pays a lump sum followed by 18 monthly payments. You must claim within 21 months of the death — and claim within 3 months to receive the full entitlement.
Rates 2026/27
| Higher rate | Lower rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Receiving Child Benefit, or pregnant at the time of death | Neither condition applies |
| Lump sum | £3,500 | £2,500 |
| Monthly payments | £350/month for 18 months | £100/month for 18 months |
| Total maximum | £9,800 | £4,300 |
BSP is tax-free and does not count as income for Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Housing Benefit, or any other means-tested benefit.
Who Qualifies?
You must meet all of the following conditions:
You: Were married to or in a civil partnership with the deceased. You were under State Pension age when they died. You are living in the UK (or a qualifying country with a social security agreement).
Your partner: Paid Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year before their death; OR died as a result of an accident at work or an industrial disease.
Unmarried partners
BSP is not available to cohabiting partners who were not married or in a civil partnership — regardless of the length of the relationship.
Exception: If you have dependent children together and were not married, you may still qualify for the higher rate BSP if you receive Child Benefit for those children, provided your partner paid sufficient NI contributions.
This is one of the most significant financial consequences of not being married — see What to Do With Your Finances When Someone Dies for more on the benefits of marriage vs cohabitation.
How to Claim
Claim as quickly as possible. BSP is time-sensitive — every month you delay is a monthly payment you do not receive.
Online
Apply at GOV.UK/bereavement-support-payment. You will need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your partner’s National Insurance number and date of death
- Bank account details for payment
- Details of any children you are responsible for
By phone
Call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). This line can also handle calls about state pension and other bereavement payments.
By post
Download the BSP1 form from GOV.UK, complete it, and send it to the address on the form.
The Claim Deadline
| Time since death | What you receive |
|---|---|
| Claim within 3 months | Full lump sum + all 18 monthly payments |
| Claim between 3 and 21 months | Lump sum + monthly payments from the date you claim (missed months are not backdated) |
| Claim after 21 months | No entitlement — cannot claim |
Example: Sarah’s husband died on 1 June 2025. She qualifies for the higher rate. If she claims by 1 September 2025 (within 3 months), she receives £3,500 plus 18 × £350 = £9,800 in total. If she waits until January 2026 (7 months later), she has missed 4 monthly payments (£1,400). She receives the £3,500 lump sum plus only 14 × £350 = £8,400.
What Happens After 18 Months?
BSP ends after 18 monthly payments. At that point, you may be entitled to other ongoing support:
- Universal Credit — if your income is low enough
- Pension Credit — if you are near or over State Pension age and have low income
- Child Benefit — continues as long as you have qualifying children
- Inherited state pension — contact the Pension Service about inheriting any of your partner’s state pension entitlement
Other Bereavement Benefits
BSP replaced earlier bereavement benefits, but some people are still receiving the older benefits:
| Benefit | Who it covers |
|---|---|
| Bereavement Support Payment | Deaths from 6 April 2017 onwards |
| Widowed Parent’s Allowance | Deaths before 6 April 2017 (still paid to existing claimants) |
| Bereavement Allowance | Deaths before 6 April 2017 (still paid to existing claimants) |
If your partner died before April 2017, you are under the old system. Contact DWP if you are unsure what you are receiving.
Guardian’s Allowance
If the child you care for has lost both parents (or in some circumstances, one parent), you may be entitled to Guardian’s Allowance in addition to Child Benefit. Guardian’s Allowance is £21.75 per week in 2026/27 and is not means-tested. You must already be claiming Child Benefit for the child. Apply using form GA1 from GOV.UK.
Related Guides
- What to Do With Your Finances When Someone Dies — the full bereavement hub
- Universal Credit — What You Can Get — income support after BSP ends
- State Pension Amount 2026/27 — including inherited state pension rules
- What Happens to a Pension When You Die? — DC pension and DB pension death benefits
- Child Benefit UK 2026/27 — continuing support for families