Bereavement Benefits

As of 9 February 2023, unmarried, cohabiting parents with dependent children can apply for Bereavement Support Payment if their partner passes away. This includes those not in a civil partnership.

Those already bereaved and cohabiting before their partner's death can submit a retroactive claim for bereavement benefits, provided they were qualified as of 30 August 2018.

Eligibility for bereavement benefits requires being married, in a civil partnership, or cohabiting at the time of the partner's death, and either expecting a child or caring for children who are either below 18 or above 18 but still in non-advanced education (like school or college, but excluding university).

The type of benefit you apply for hinges on the date of your partner's passing:

• For deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2017: Bereavement Support Payment is claimable.
• For deaths occurring before 6 April 2017: You might qualify for a Widowed Parent's Allowance.
• Claims must be submitted by 8 February 2024.

If receiving other means-tested benefits, like Universal Credit, any lump-sum back payments won't influence the savings threshold for 52 weeks, potentially impacting your benefit amount.

For deaths before 6 April 2017, Widowed Parent's Allowance can be claimed via phone or a mail-in form from the GOV.UK site. Conversely, for deaths on or after 6 April 2017, Bereavement Support Payment can be claimed online, by phone, or through a postal form.

For more information and advice please visit: Claiming bereavement support payment and other benefits | MoneyHelper