Farra is a death administration assistant for UK families. Get step-by-step guidance for registering a death, applying for probate, notifying banks, and managing bereavement admin. From essential documents to practical checklists, Farra simplifies estate paperwork and funeral-related tasks so you can focus on what matters.
Bereavement Support Payment provides a lump sum (£3,500 with children, £2,500 without) plus 18 monthly payments (£350 or £100). For surviving spouses/civil partners under State Pension age whose partner paid 25+ weeks National Insurance. Not means-tested. Apply within 3 months for full backdating, up to 21 months after death.
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Bereavement Support Payment provides financial help to surviving spouses and civil partners when their partner dies. It replaced several older bereavement benefits (Bereavement Allowance, Bereavement Payment, and Widowed Parent's Allowance) in April 2017 and provides both a lump sum and ongoing monthly payments.
According to GOV.UK eligibility criteria, you can claim if you:
If you have dependent children:
If you don't have dependent children:
BSP rates have been frozen at 2017 levels since the scheme launched on 6 April 2017. There is no automatic annual uplift — recipients lose real-terms value each year inflation outpaces the (zero) increase. No change to rates was announced for 2026/27.
From submitting a complete claim to receiving the first payment, BSP typically takes 8–12 weeks. The route you use affects the timeline:
| Claim route | Time to first payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online claim (recommended) | ~8 weeks to first payment | Claim via gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment with NI numbers and bank details |
| Paper claim (form BSP1) | 10–12 weeks to first payment | Slower — only use if you can't claim online |
| Phone claim (Bereavement Service) | 8–10 weeks to first payment | 0800 731 0469; advisor completes the form with you |
| Claim made via Tell Us Once | Same as online — typically ~8 weeks | Tell Us Once notifies DWP but doesn't replace the BSP application — you still need to claim |
The lump sum lands first, followed by the monthly payment tranche — usually paid four-weekly into the same account on the same date each cycle. Backdating rules are strict and catch many claimants out:
Live processing-time figures and other UK bereavement-admin statistics are tracked on our UK Bereavement Statistics hub.
From April 2027, BSP eligibility extends to surviving cohabiting partners (not just married/civil partners) where there's a dependent child. This was confirmed in 2024 following the McLaughlin and Jackson cases — full guidance from DWP expected in late 2026.
If you're a cohabiting (not married or civil-partnered) surviving parent who was previously refused BSP, watch for DWP guidance late 2026 — you may be entitled to retrospective payments under the reformed rules.
Bereavement Support Payment is designed to provide financial stability during the difficult first months after losing your partner. According to MoneyHelper, the payments are not taxable and don't affect other benefits.
Don't delay claiming - the sooner you apply, the sooner you'll receive the support you're entitled to.
Bereavement Support Payment provides a lump sum of £3,500 (with dependent children) or £2,500 (without children), plus monthly payments of £350 (with children) or £100 (without children) for 18 months. The total payment over 18 months is £9,800 with dependent children or £4,300 without children.
You're eligible if you were married to or in a civil partnership with the deceased, are under State Pension age when your partner died, your partner paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks, and you haven't remarried or formed a new civil partnership. Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested.
You should claim within 3 months of your partner's death to receive full backdated payments. You can still claim up to 21 months after death, but you'll only receive payments from the date you claim if you apply after the 3-month deadline.
No, Bereavement Support Payment is not taxable and does not affect other benefits you may be receiving. The payments are designed to provide financial stability during the difficult first 18 months after losing your partner without reducing your other income.
No, Bereavement Support Payment is only available to surviving spouses and civil partners. Unmarried partners, including those in long-term cohabiting relationships, are not eligible for this benefit regardless of how long the relationship lasted or whether there are children.
You can claim by calling the Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, or by downloading and completing form BB1. You'll need the death certificate, your marriage or civil partnership certificate, and your National Insurance number. Processing typically takes 4-6 weeks.
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