Bereavement financial support
Losing a loved one can be a very upsetting and confusing time. One of the concerns you may have is the impact this will have on your family’s finances. But, if you have lost a loved one, there may be bereavement financial support available to you.
On this page, we’ll cover:
Bereavement financial support
Due to some recent changes in financial support available, this can depend on when your loved one passed away:
If you lost your spouse or civil partner before 6 April 2017.
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If you are over 45 years old, and have lost your husband, wife or civil partner, then Bereavement Allowance may allow you to get an allowance for up to 52 weeks from the date that your loved one passed away.
The amount of bereavement financial support you receive will depend on the level of contributions your husband, wife or civil partner made, as well as your age when they passed away.
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If the following is true then you may be able to claim Widowed Parents Allowance:
- Your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017
- You have at least one child together, who you are entitled to receive child benefit for
- OR if you are pregnant and your husband has died
- OR if you’re pregnant after fertility treatment and your civil partner has died
If you lost your spouse or civil partner on, or after, 6 April 2017.
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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, and the person claiming the benefit must be under State Pension age living in the UK, or a country that pays Bereavement Benefits.
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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.
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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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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