Universal Credit After Bereavement: How Your Claim Changes

Losing a partner is devastating, and navigating the benefits system in the immediate aftermath adds a significant practical burden. Universal Credit claims change significantly when a partner dies. Understanding what happens — and acting quickly to protect your income — is essential. This guide explains the key changes and what you need to do.

Your joint claim ends: making a new single claim

Universal Credit is claimed by individuals or, where a couple live together, as a joint claim. When one partner on a joint claim dies, that joint claim ends automatically. DWP will be notified of the death — either through Tell Us Once, by you calling the UC helpline, or through the UC online journal — and will close the joint claim.

The surviving partner must make a completely new single UC claim. This is not an amendment to the existing claim — it is a new application with a new assessment period. The key points:

• Make the new claim as soon as possible — DWP guidance is to claim within one month of the death to avoid a gap in payments
• A new claim can be made online at gov.uk/universal-credit or by calling the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644
• You will need to provide your National Insurance number, bank details, and information about your circumstances (housing costs, children, work)
• The new single claim will be assessed on your individual circumstances — the standard allowance, housing element, and any other elements will be calculated based on your situation alone

The bereavement run-on payment

To cushion the transition from joint to single claim rates, Universal Credit includes a bereavement run-on. Under this provision:

• UC payments continue at approximately the joint rate for around two months after the death, rather than immediately dropping to single rates
• The run-on is paid into the same bank account as the existing joint claim payments
• During the run-on period, you should also be making your new single claim so that there is no gap when the run-on ends
• The run-on applies regardless of whether the deceased was the main claimant — it is based on the existing joint award

The exact duration and calculation of the run-on can depend on where you are in your assessment period at the time of the death. If you are concerned about the timing, contact the UC helpline and ask for a specific explanation of how the run-on will work in your case.

Notifying DWP: what to do and when

You must notify DWP of your partner's death. You can do this through:

• The UC online journal: Log into your online UC account and send a message in the journal — state the date of death and your partner's full name and National Insurance number
• By telephone: Call the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 (free from mobiles and landlines; Monday to Friday 8am-6pm)
• Tell Us Once: The register office service will also notify DWP, but it is still advisable to contact DWP directly through the UC journal to ensure the information is linked to your specific claim

You will need:

• The deceased's date of death and full name
• Their National Insurance number
• The death certificate (or interim certificate if available) — DWP may ask for a copy

How housing and childcare elements change

The housing and childcare elements of Universal Credit are reassessed when your claim moves from joint to single. The impact depends on your individual circumstances:

Housing costs element:

• If you rent, the housing costs element is calculated based on your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for a single person — this may be lower than the joint entitlement if you are now under-occupying the property
• If you have children, your LHA rate will reflect the number of bedrooms you are entitled to as a single parent, which may mean a higher entitlement than for a childless single person
• There is a transitional period for under-occupation during which your housing element will not immediately be reduced — contact DWP to understand the specific transitional rules that apply to your situation

Childcare element:

• The UC childcare element can cover up to 85% of eligible childcare costs for single parents — this is the same percentage as for couples, so this element should not reduce
• As a single parent, you may now be eligible for childcare elements you were not previously receiving if your work situation changes — take advice from Citizens Advice or Turn2Us

Bereavement Support Payment: do not miss this

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is a benefit specifically for people whose spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner dies. It is a separate benefit from Universal Credit, but the two interact in an important way:

• BSP is disregarded as income for UC purposes:This means that receiving BSP does not reduce your Universal Credit award — you are entitled to the full amount of both
• BSP rates (2025/26): A lump sum of £3,500 (standard) or £2,500 (lower rate), followed by up to 18 monthly payments of £350 or £100
• Eligibility: You must be under State Pension age and your partner must have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year
• Claim within 3 months: BSP must be claimed within 3 months of the death to receive the full amount — claim at gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment or call 0800 731 0469