Losing a partner is devastating, and the financial pressure that follows can make everything harder. The DWP Bereavement Support Payment is a government benefit designed to help surviving spouses and civil partners during this difficult period, yet many people don’t know it exists or assume they won’t qualify. At Go Direct Cremations, we support families through every aspect of loss, and that includes helping you understand what financial support is available to you.
Bereavement Support Payment replaced the older Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payment in 2017. It provides a lump sum followed by monthly payments, and it won’t affect any means-tested benefits you already receive. Whether you’re dealing with a recent loss or planning ahead, knowing your entitlements matters, especially when you’re already managing cremation costs and other expenses.
This guide covers who qualifies, how much you could receive, and exactly how to make your claim.
What Bereavement Support Payment is
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help people who have lost a spouse or civil partner. It is not means-tested, which means your income and savings do not affect whether you can claim it or how much you receive. The payment exists to give you some financial breathing room during the months after a loss, covering a period when your household income may have dropped significantly.
The two-part payment structure
The DWP Bereavement Support Payment is made up of two distinct parts. First, you receive a one-off lump sum paid shortly after your claim is approved. After that, you receive up to 18 monthly instalments, paid directly into your bank account. The exact amounts depend on your circumstances, but the structure is designed to cover both the immediate costs that arise after a death and the ongoing financial adjustment that follows.
Claiming as early as possible matters because you can only backdate your claim by a limited period, and missing the window means losing payments permanently.
How it replaced older bereavement benefits
Before April 2017, the system worked differently. Two separate payments existed: Bereavement Allowance and the Bereavement Payment. BSP replaced both of these and introduced a cleaner, simpler structure. One key change is that BSP does not count as taxable income, so it will not push you into a higher tax bracket or reduce other benefits such as Universal Credit. It is also disregarded entirely when your eligibility for means-tested benefits is calculated, which makes it genuinely additional support rather than a replacement for other income.
Why it matters after a death
When someone dies, household income can drop overnight. If your partner was the main earner, or if you shared expenses equally, the financial gap they leave behind is immediate and real. The DWP Bereavement Support Payment exists precisely because grief does not pause for financial planning, and the weeks and months after a loss are often the hardest time to think clearly about money or make practical decisions.
The real cost of losing a partner
Funeral and cremation costs are often the first expense you face, but they are rarely the last. You may also need to cover household bills, mortgage or rent payments, childcare, and debts your partner previously managed or shared. BSP gives you a genuine financial cushion during this adjustment period, without reducing your Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits. It sits alongside your existing support rather than replacing it, which means every payment you receive is a real addition to your finances during an already difficult time.
Claiming BSP early means more of those 18 monthly payments are available to you, so acting quickly directly protects your finances.
Who can get it and who cannot
To claim the DWP Bereavement Support Payment, you must meet specific eligibility criteria set by the government. The rules are clear, but missing even one condition means your claim will be rejected, so it is worth checking your situation carefully before you apply.
Who qualifies
You qualify if your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017, and they were paying National Insurance contributions at the time of their death, or were exempt because they died from an industrial accident or disease. You must also be under State Pension age when your partner died. To receive the higher rate, you need to have been pregnant or receiving Child Benefit at the time of the death.
Unmarried partners do not qualify, regardless of how long you lived together or whether you had children together.
Who does not qualify
You cannot claim if you were not legally married or in a civil partnership with the deceased at the time of their death. You are also excluded if you were already over State Pension age when your partner died, or if your partner had not paid enough National Insurance contributions during their working life. Cohabiting partners remain ineligible under current rules, which is a significant gap in the system that affects many families.
How much you could receive and when
The DWP Bereavement Support Payment comes in two rates, and which one you receive depends on your circumstances at the time of your partner’s death. Both rates follow the same structure: a lump sum paid first, then monthly payments for up to 18 months.
The two rates explained
If you were pregnant or receiving Child Benefit when your partner died, you qualify for the higher rate. Everyone else who meets the eligibility criteria receives the standard rate. The amounts below apply from April 2024 and may change following government reviews:
| Lump sum | Monthly payment | |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £3,500 | £350 |
| Standard rate | £2,500 | £100 |
When payments arrive
Your lump sum arrives once DWP processes your claim, which typically takes a few weeks from submission. Monthly payments then follow, paid directly into your bank account. You receive up to 18 monthly instalments in total, but the count starts from the month your partner died, not from when you submitted your claim.
If you delay claiming, those early months are lost permanently, so apply as soon as you are able.
How to claim from DWP
You can claim the DWP Bereavement Support Payment online, by phone, or by post. The fastest route is online through the GOV.UK website, which lets you complete your application in one sitting and submit it immediately. If you prefer speaking to someone, call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 to apply by phone or request a paper form be sent to you.
What you need before you apply
Before you start, gather the key documents DWP requires to process your claim. Having everything ready avoids delays and keeps your application moving quickly.
- Your National Insurance number
- Your partner’s National Insurance number and date of death
- Your bank account details for payment
- Proof of any Child Benefit you were receiving, if applicable
You must claim within 3 months of your partner’s death to receive the full 18 monthly payments; after 21 months from the date of death, your right to claim expires entirely.
What happens after you apply
DWP will review your application and contact you if they need further information. Once they approve it, your lump sum arrives within a few weeks, and monthly payments follow automatically from there.
A quick recap
The DWP Bereavement Support Payment is one of the most accessible financial benefits available after losing a spouse or civil partner, yet it goes unclaimed by thousands of families each year. You do not need to pass a means test, and the payments sit alongside any other support you already receive, making them a genuine addition to your finances during an already difficult time.
To qualify, your partner must have paid National Insurance contributions, and you must have been legally married or in a civil partnership when they died. The higher rate applies if you were pregnant or receiving Child Benefit. Claim within 3 months of the death to protect all 18 monthly payments, and never let the 21-month deadline pass without applying.
If you are also thinking about cremation arrangements, Go Direct Cremations offers a simple, dignified, and affordable service to take one more burden off your hands.