Bereavement Support payment (BSP)

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is paid by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to you if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.

You must claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to get the full amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death but you will receive fewer monthly payments.

Who can claim? 

You qualify for Bereavement Support Payment if either:

• Your partner paid national insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year since 6 April 1975.
• Died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.

When they died you must have been:

• Under State Pension age
• Living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits

BSP cannot be claimed whilst in prison.

If your partner died more than 21 months ago, you may still be able to claim BSP if your husband, wife or civil partner’s cause of death was confirmed more than 21 months after the death. Call the Bereavement Service helpline: 0800 731 0469.

How much do you get?

Bereavement Support Payment rates

If you get Child Benefit (or if you do not get it but are entitled to it), you’ll get the higher rate.

If you do not get Child Benefit, you’ll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your spouse or civil partner died.

Your payments will be paid into your bank or building society account.

BSP is not affected by your income, savings or capital – if you get benefits – BSP will not affect your benefits for a year after your first payment. After a year, money you have left from your first payment could affect the amount you get if you renew or make a claim for another benefit.

You must inform your benefits office (e.g. your local Jobcentre Plus) when you start getting Bereavement Support Payment.

How do you claim?

The quickest way to apply is by telephone –the Bereavement Service Helpline:
0800 731 0469

Alternatively, you can use a claim form BSP1 – available from www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-support-payment.