Bereavement Allowance

You may get Bereavement Allowance if all the following apply:

• your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017
• you were 45 or over when your husband, wife or civil partner died
• you’re under State Pension age
• your late husband, wife or civil partner paid National Insurance contributions, or they died as a result of an industrial accident or disease

If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead.

You will not get Bereavement Allowance if you:

• are bringing up children - you can claim Widowed Parent’s Allowance instead
• remarry or form a new civil partnership
• live with another person as if you’re married or in a civil partnership
• were divorced from your husband, wife or civil partner before their death
• were over State Pension age when you were widowed or became a surviving civil partner - you may be able to get extra State Pension
• are in prison

 *Details correct at time of update 17/02/2020