Bereavement Support Payment - How do I claim Bereavement Support Payment?

How do I claim Bereavement Support Payment?

England, Scotland and Wales

Telephone claim

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bereavement Service:

 Tel: 0800 151 2012

 Textphone: 0800 731 0464

 Tel: 0800 731 0453 (Welsh)

 Textphone: 0800 731 0456 (Welsh)

Using the Video Relay Service for people who use British Sign Language (BSL).

Paper claim

Download a Bereavement Support Payment claim form from the Gov.UK website

Northern Ireland

Telephone claim

Northern Ireland (NI) Bereavement Service: 0800 085 2463

Using the video relay service for people who use British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL).

Paper claim

Download a Bereavement Support Payment claim form from the NI Direct website

What documents will I need to claim Bereavement Support Payment?

You must send originals of the following documents to support your claim (or show them at your local Jobcentre Plus office):

• Your marriage or civil partnership certificate

• Your husband's, wife's, civil partner's or cohabiting partner's certificate of registration of death.

 If you do not have this evidence, you should not delay claiming. 

When will my Bereavement Support Payment claim begin?

Your claim will start on the date your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner died if your claim is received at the benefit office within three months from the date you are bereaved.

If three months or more have passed since your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner died, the date of claim will be backdated three months from the date your form is received at the benefit office.

If more than 21 months have passed since your spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died and you have not made a claim, you will not be entitled to receive a Bereavement Support Payment.

If your cohabiting partner died before 30 August 2018 and you claim before February 2024, your claim can be partially backdated but you cannot get the initial lump sum.

If your cohabiting partner died after 30 August 2018 and before 9 February 2023 and you claim before February 2024, you can get backdated payment up to 18 months.

Change of circumstances

Payment will continue even if you remarry, enter a civil partnership or start cohabiting.

You must report changes in your circumstances which might affect your entitlement to this benefit.

Updated: February 2023