• Posted 5th October 2015

Bereavement Benefits

If your husband, wife or civil partner has died, you are entitled to certain type of benefits known as the bereavement benefits. Such benefits include Bereavement Payment, Widowed Parent’s Allowance, and Bereavement Allowance. Under the Bereavement Payment, you will be able to claim one-off lump sum when your spouse or civil partner dies. If you have dependent children, Widowed Parent’s Allowance is available. However, if you don’t, Bereavement Allowance is available for you. In order to claim such bereavement payments, you need to meet some certain criteria. • You were under State Pension age when your husband, wife or civil partner died • Your husband, wife or civil partner wasn’t entitled to Category A State Retirement Pension when they died and have paid enough National Insurance Contributions • Your husband, wife or civil partner died as a result of an industrial accident or disease If you were divorced from your husband, wife or civil partner before their death, you won’t be able to get a Bereavement Payment. Moreover, if you are living with another person as husband, wife or civil partner or you are in prison, such payment is not available to you. Bereavement payments are non-taxable and paid directly to your bank. While Widowed Parent’s Allowance is a weekly payment made to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner with dependent children, Bereavement Allowance is only available for 52 weeks from the date of your husband, wife or civil partner's death. Both the Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance are taxable. You are still eligible for the bereavement benefits even if you are living abroad when your husband, wife or civil partner dies. And, if you have been refused such bereavement benefits or provided less benefits, you can challenge this decision but, should do this within one month of the decision. If you want more information on such benefits, feel free to get in touch with our advisers today.