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.
Need to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order — from £95.
Pension Credit does not automatically continue in your name after your partner dies. You must make a new claim as a single person. However, the Pension Credit bereavement run-on pays the joint rate for 12 weeks after your partner's death, giving you time to make a new claim. You should also apply immediately for the 25% Council Tax Single Person Discount.
Losing a partner when you are both relying on Pension Credit or council tax support is financially as well as emotionally difficult. The good news is that there are protections in place to prevent income dropping immediately. Understanding what to claim, and when, means you will not lose out on money you are entitled to.
When a Pension Credit claimant dies, the surviving partner does not immediately lose the benefit. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) automatically pays a bereavement run-on, which continues Pension Credit at the joint couple rate for 12 weeks following the date of death.
This run-on happens automatically — you do not need to apply for it. However, you do need to notify the Pension Service of your partner's death as soon as possible, both to trigger the run-on and to begin the process of making a new single-person claim.
You can notify the Pension Service by calling 0800 731 0469 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You will need your partner's National Insurance number, date of birth, and date of death.
Important:
If your partner was the sole named claimant, the bereavement run-on still applies. Do not wait until the 12 weeks are up to make your new claim — apply as soon as you can, as claims can take several weeks to process and you want to avoid any gap in payment.
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit and the single rate is calculated differently from the joint rate. After your partner dies, you must make a new claim in your own name. You cannot simply continue the existing joint claim.
The single person's Pension Credit standard minimum guarantee for 2025/26 is £218.15 per week. The joint rate was £332.95 per week. Your entitlement as a single person will depend on your own income and capital, including any state pension, private pension, or savings you have.
To make a new claim, contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234. You will need:
You can also make a claim online at gov.uk/pension-credit. Claims can be backdated by up to three months, so even if you have not claimed immediately, you may be able to recover some money.
Moving from a joint Pension Credit claim to a single one will almost certainly reduce the weekly amount you receive, since the standard minimum guarantee for a single person is lower than for a couple. However, the reduction may be less than you expect, because:
The Pension Service will carry out a fresh assessment when you make your new claim. It is worth asking them to explain exactly how your new entitlement has been calculated.
Once you are living alone, you are entitled to a 25% discount on your council tax bill. This is known as the Single Person Discount and it applies to everyone who is the sole adult resident in a property, regardless of income.
You must apply to your local council — it does not happen automatically. Contact the council tax department as soon as possible after your partner dies. Most councils allow you to apply online, by phone, or in writing. You will typically need to provide the date your partner died.
The discount can usually be backdated to the date of death, so you will not pay the full rate for any period during which you were already living alone.
If your late partner was receiving a Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Benefit in older literature), this was paid as part of a joint household claim. After their death, you will need to make a new claim for Council Tax Reduction in your own name.
Council Tax Reduction is administered by your local council and each authority has its own scheme. Eligibility is based on income, capital, and household composition. As a single person on Pension Credit, you are likely to qualify for significant support — in some areas, those on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit receive a 100% Council Tax Reduction.
Contact your local council to apply. At the same time, ask them to apply the Single Person Discount on your account.
The Pension Credit Guarantee Credit is designed to ensure that everyone over pension age has a minimum weekly income. If your total income from all sources falls below the standard minimum guarantee (£218.15 per week for a single person in 2025/26), Pension Credit tops it up to that level.
If you are unsure whether you are receiving everything you are entitled to, contact the Pension Service and ask for a benefits check or entitlement assessment. You can also use the government's free Pension Credit calculator at gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility to get an estimate before calling.
Age UK (ageuk.org.uk, freephone 0800 678 1602) and Citizens Advice can also provide free help checking your entitlements and completing the claim.
Checklist — What to do now:
Guide to stocks and shares ISAs after death. Tax-sheltered status, the Additional Permitted Subscription allowance for spouses, and the transfer process.
What happens to a defined benefit (final salary) pension when the member dies. Survivor's pension, lump sum, and how to make a claim.
Received a DWP letter demanding repayment of benefits after a death? What the estate owes, whether family are personally liable, and how to challenge the claim.
How to apply for a DWP Funeral Expenses Payment. Eligibility, how much is paid, the SF200 claim form, the 6-month deadline, and estate recovery.
How to claim NS&I Premium Bonds after someone dies. Whether prizes are still paid, the NS&I claim process, and whether probate is required.
Ready to apply for probate?
Answer 15 questions and we'll tell you exactly what to file, in what order, and what to do when it gets complicated.
Get started →Free to start · from £95