Bereavement Support Payment

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) provides financial support if your husband, wife, or civil partner has died. It replaced the older Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parent's Allowance for deaths on or after 6 April 2017. BSP is not means-tested — your income, savings, and employment status do not affect eligibility.

BSP is paid in two parts: an initial lump sum and then monthly payments for up to 18 months. There are two rates. The higher rate (for people with dependent children) provides a lump sum of up to £3,500 followed by up to £350 per month for 18 months. The standard rate (for people without dependent children) provides a lump sum of up to £2,500 followed by up to £100 per month for 18 months.

To qualify, your spouse or civil partner needs to have paid National Insurance contributions (or their death was caused by their work), and you need to have been under State Pension age when they died. You do not need to have been living together at the time of death, but you must not have been living with a new partner.

You can claim within 21 months of the date of death, but it is best to claim within 3 months to receive the full amount. If you claim between 3 and 21 months after the death, you may receive fewer monthly payments but the lump sum is still paid in full. BSP does not affect most other benefits — it is disregarded as income for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.