Can I get Widowed Parent's Allowance?
If your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017 and you had a dependent children together under the age of 19 (or 20 if you are still getting Child Benefit for them), or are pregnant with your husband's baby, you may be able to get Widowed Parent's Allowance. If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment instead.
You could also get Widowed Parent's Allowance if you are a woman who was living with her civil partner when she died and you are pregnant as a result of fertility treatment.
Widowed Parent's Allowance depends on the national insurance contributions of your husband, wife or civil partner. It does not matter if you have not paid national insurance contributions yourself. If your husband, wife or civil partner died because of an industrial injury, their national insurance contributions might not matter.
You cannot get Widowed Parent's Allowance if you were divorced or if your civil partnership was dissolved or if you were living with someone else when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
You may also be entitled to a Bereavement Payment.
Widowed Parent's Allowance is paid until you stop getting Child Benefit. If you are aged 45 or over, but below state pension age, you may be able to get Bereavement Allowance if your Widowed Parent's Allowance ends because you stop qualifying for Child Benefit but you're still within 52 weeks of your bereavement.
Updated April 2017