There are two rates of Bereavement Support Payment: A higher rate and a standard rate. You receive one or the other.
Higher Rate Bereavement Support Payment
You are entitled to the higher rate if you were pregnant at the time your late spouse or civil partner died.
Or
You were entitled to Child Benefit at the time your late spouse or civil partner died.
Or
Since your spouse or civil partner died you became entitled to child benefit for a child or young person who was living with you or your late spouse or civil partner immediately before they died.
If you are entitled to the higher rate, you will receive an initial lump sum of £3,500 followed by up to 18 monthly payments of £350
Standard Rate Bereavement Support Payment
If you are not entitled to the higher rate, you receive the standard rate instead.
The standard rate is an initial lump-sum payment of £2,500 followed by up to 18 monthly instalments of £100.
How much Bereavement Support Payment you could get depends on when you claim Bereavement Support Payment.
If you claim within three month's of your husband, wife or civil partner's death, your claim will be backdated to the date of the death. If you claim more than three month's after the death, your claim will be backdated by three months, but this might mean you miss out on some entitlement. For example, someone who claims 6 months after their husband dies will only get a total of 15 months Bereavement Support Payment.
To get the initial lump sum, you have to claim within 12 months of your husband, wife or civil partner's death.
Bereavement Support Payment and Other Benefits
Bereavement Support Payment is ignored as income for working out entitlement to other benefits.
Benefit Cap
Bereavement Support Payment will not be included as income for the Benefit Cap.
Reviewed June 2021