Widow’s pension: What benefits can you get when your husband dies?
WELFARE benefits could be available to partners when their husband, wife or civil partner has died. What benefits can you get?
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Previously known as Widow’s Pension, Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is available to some if your husband, wife or civil partner has died in the last 21 months. BSP is not means-tested, so you will be eligible regardless of income level and can be paid whether or not you are working.
How to claim Bereavement Support Payment
To claim BSP your partner (wife, husband or civil partner) must have died in the last 21 months.
However, to get the full amount you need to claim within three months of your partner’s death.
If you claim up to 21 months after you will get fewer monthly payments.
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If you previously received Bereavement Allowance, also known as Widow’s Pension, Bereavement Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance, this will now be covering by BSP.
Whether you’re eligible or not depends on a number of factors.
First, your partner must have paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year.
Your partner must have died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work.
In addition, when they died you must have been:
- under State Pension age
- living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
Prisoners cannot claim BSP.
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How much can you get?
You will get a first payment and then up to 18 monthly payments.
There are two rates for both the first payment and the monthly payment.
For the first payment you can either get the higher rate of £3,500 or the lower rate at £2,500.
The monthly payment will then either be £350 at higher rate or £100 on the lower rate.
Roget the higher rate you need to receive - or be entitled to receive - Child Benefit.
If you do not get Child Benefit, you’ll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your husband, wife or civil partner died.
Your payments will be paid into your bank or building society account.