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Practical and Financial Bereavement support

Losing a loved one is a devastating and confusing time. One of the more practical concerns you may have, is the impact their loss may have on your family’s finances. But, if you have lost a loved one, there may be financial support available to you.

On this page, we’ll cover:

Close-up of UK money signifying bereavement financial support

Bereavement financial support

If you have lost a spouse of civil partner the following financial support may be available you.

If your husband, wife or civil partner died on, or after, 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment.

In order to be eligible for this bereavement financial support, the person that has passed away must have:

Paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks

Or, died because of an accident at work, or a disease caused by work

The person claiming the benefit must be under State Pension age living in the UK, or a country that pays Bereavement Benefits.

If your spouse or civil partner passes away, you may be able to inherit part of their Additional State Pension. To be eligible your partner must be: a man born before 6 April 1951, or a women born before 6 April 1953.

If you lost your spouse or civil partner before 6 April 2017 some bereavement benefits may be payable but in very limited circumstances. Our Benefits and money clinic can help you check what is available and how to apply.

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Funeral Expenses Payment

If you’re receiving certain benefits and need help to pay for a funeral you’re arranging, you may be eligible for a Funeral Expenses Payment

The payment will not usually cover all of the costs of the funeral. But, Funeral Expenses Payment can help to pay for some of the costs of the following:

  • Burial fees
  • Cremation fees
  • Travel to arrange or go to the funeral
  • Moving the body more than 50 miles within the UK
  • Legal documents, for example death certificates
  • Up to £1,000 for any other funeral expenses.

How much you get depends on your circumstances and this includes any other money that’s available to cover the costs. For example, this could come from an insurance policy or the deceased person’s estate.

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Benefits and money clinic

We work with Citizens Advice to provide a telephone clinic, which offers specialist benefits advice and assistance to people affected by brain tumours. You can book an appointment through our website. Or, you can reach out to our Support Team, Monday – Friday, 9-5, on: 0808 800 0004, should you need assistance with booking an appointment. 

A useful source of further information on what to do when a loved one dies, can be found on the www.gov.uk website.  Here you will find details of the Tell Us Once service, which allows you report a death to most government organisations in one go. 

Our experienced Benefits and Money Advisor providing advice over the phone to someone affected by a brain tumour

Expert advice and guidance

Speak to our experienced advisors for advice on the support you may be entitled to if you’ve lost a loved one.

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If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
Support and Information Services
0808 800 0004 Free from landlines and mobiles
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
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If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.

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