Advice index

Bereavement benefits

The Bereavement Benefit Scheme was introduced on 9 April 2001, and applies to people widowed on or after this date. It also applies to people who became surviving civil partners on or after 5 December 2005.

You may be able to get a Bereavement Payment and either:

  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance, or
  • Bereavement Allowance.

For you to qualify for these bereavement benefits, your husband, wife or civil partner must have paid National Insurance contributions. The contributions you have paid do not count for these benefits.

If they died because of an accident at work or an industrial disease, we will treat your case as if your husband, wife or civil partner had paid full National Insurance contributions.

With Grace