Guides › Public Services › Bereavement Support Payment: How Much and the Deadlines
Bereavement Support Payment: How Much and the Deadlines
Bereavement Support Payment can be paid if your husband, wife, civil partner or partner you lived with died and you were under State Pension age. The higher rate is £3,500 plus 18 monthly payments of £350; the lower rate is £2,500 plus 18 payments of £100. Claim within 3 months of the death to get the full amount. It is not means-tested.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Bereavement Support Payment
Who Can Get It
When your partner died you must have been under State Pension age and married, in a civil partnership or living together as if married. Your partner must have paid enough National Insurance, or died from an accident at work or work-related disease. It is not means-tested. source
How Much
Higher rate (with Child Benefit for a child or pregnant, and cohabiting partners): £3,500 plus 18 monthly payments of £350. Lower rate: £2,500 plus 18 monthly payments of £100. source
Deadlines
Claim within 3 months to get the lump sum and all 18 monthly payments. Between 3 and 12 months you get the lump sum and some monthly payments. Between 12 and 21 months, no lump sum but some monthly payments. You usually need to claim within 21 months. source
Other Benefits
It will not affect your other benefits for the first year after your first payment. Tell your benefit office when you start getting it. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 3 monthsClaim for the full amountFrom the date of death
- 21 monthsUsual latest claimFrom the date of death
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Claim as soon as you can, ideally within 3 months.
Step 2 of 5
Have your and your partner's NI numbers ready.
Step 3 of 5
Claim online, by phone or with form BSP1.
Step 4 of 5
Tell your benefit office.
Step 5 of 5
Get help from a bereavement charity or Citizens Advice.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Bereavement Service
DWP helpline for Bereavement Support Payment and Funeral Expenses Payment.
Citizens Advice
Free, independent help with benefits, including challenges and appeals.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Tell Us Once can let several government services know about the death at the same time.
Rules here are for England and Wales. Scotland has its own disability and carer benefits from Social Security Scotland, and Northern Ireland benefits are run through nidirect.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 16 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- hmrc.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/print Checked 16 October 2026