Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) is a benefit for people who have lost their spouse or civil partner, or in some cases a cohabiting partner. It provides a lump sum followed by monthly payments for up to 18 months. Here are the current rates and everything you need to know to claim.
Bereavement Support Payment Rates 2026/27
BSP is paid at two rates depending on whether you have dependent children or are pregnant.
Higher Rate (With Dependent Children or Pregnant)
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial lump sum | £3,500 |
| Monthly payments (up to 18 months) | £350/month |
| Maximum total | £9,800 |
Standard Rate (No Dependent Children)
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial lump sum | £2,500 |
| Monthly payments (up to 18 months) | £100/month |
| Maximum total | £4,300 |
Rates at a Glance
| Rate | Lump Sum | Monthly | Duration | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher (children/pregnant) | £3,500 | £350 | 18 months | £9,800 |
| Standard (no children) | £2,500 | £100 | 18 months | £4,300 |
Have BSP Rates Changed for 2026/27?
No. BSP amounts are fixed by regulation and are not automatically uprated each April the way most other DWP benefits are — they have remained at these levels since BSP was introduced in April 2017. Confirmed via the DWP “Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027” publication, which shows both the standard and higher rate lump sums and monthly payments unchanged from 2024/25 through 2026/27. Always check gov.uk at the start of each tax year in case this changes.
Who Qualifies for Bereavement Support Payment
You can claim BSP if:
- Your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 — or you were living together as if married or in a civil partnership and meet the cohabiting-partner condition below
- You were under State Pension age when they died
- Your partner either:
- Paid sufficient National Insurance contributions, OR
- Died because of an industrial accident or disease
- You were living in the UK when your partner died (or meet overseas entitlement conditions)
Who Does NOT Qualify
- You were over State Pension age when your partner died
- Your partner died before 6 April 2017 (different legacy benefits apply)
- You were cohabiting but had no qualifying child connection (see below)
- Your partner had not made sufficient National Insurance contributions
Cohabiting Partner Rule
Following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, BSP was extended to some cohabiting couples (unmarried couples living together). However, this is narrower than simply proving you lived together: to qualify as a cohabiting partner, at the time your partner died you must also have been entitled to Child Benefit for a child who lived with you, or you must have been pregnant. Cohabiting couples without children do not qualify for BSP, even if they had lived together for many years.
How to Claim Bereavement Support Payment
Claim Early — It Makes a Difference
The date you claim affects how much you receive:
| When You Claim | Lump Sum | Monthly Payments |
|---|---|---|
| Within 3 months | Full lump sum | All remaining months paid |
| 3–21 months after death | Full lump sum | Fewer monthly payments (some permanently lost) |
| After 21 months | Usually not eligible | Usually not eligible |
Claim as soon as possible. If you claim within 3 months, you receive the full lump sum and all monthly payments.
How to Claim
- Online at GOV.UK — you can complete the form at www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment
- By phone — call the Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- By post — download form BSP1 and send it to the address on the form
You will need:
- Your National Insurance number
- The date and cause of your partner’s death
- Your partner’s National Insurance number
- Your bank account details
- The death certificate (you’ll be asked to send or show this)
What Happens to BSP Payments
When Payments Stop
Monthly BSP payments stop when:
- You have received 18 monthly payments
- You reach State Pension age
- You remarry or form a new civil partnership
- You enter into a new cohabiting relationship (this does not stop payments — BSP rules changed in 2023 and re-cohabitation no longer ends entitlement)
Tax and Benefits
| Issue | Position |
|---|---|
| Income tax | Not taxable |
| National Insurance | Does not count as earnings |
| Universal Credit | Disregarded for 12 months (counted as income after 12 months) |
| Housing Benefit | Generally disregarded |
| Pension Credit | Generally not counted as income |
| Savings credit | Not counted as capital |
| Means tests generally | Not counted as income for first 12 months |
Bereavement Benefits Before 6 April 2017
If your partner died before 6 April 2017, BSP does not apply. You may instead be receiving:
Bereavement Allowance
A weekly payment for up to 52 weeks, paid to those aged 45 or over when widowed, without dependent children.
Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA)
A weekly payment for widows/widowers with dependent children or pregnant when their partner died. This is still paid to existing claimants.
Both benefits were replaced by BSP for deaths from 6 April 2017. If you are still receiving WPA or Bereavement Allowance, these continue until your entitlement ends.
Other Financial Help After Bereavement
BSP is one source of support. Other help may be available:
| Support | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| Funeral Support Payment (Scotland) | Contribution towards funeral costs (Scotland only) |
| Budgeting Loan / UC Budgeting Advance | Interest-free loan for urgent costs |
| Council Tax reduction | Reduced council tax if living alone |
| Pension Credit | If you are pension age |
| Universal Credit | Working-age means-tested benefit |
| Inherited State Pension rights | State Pension may increase based on partner’s NI record |
Getting Help with a Claim
The DWP bereavement service can help you claim and answer questions:
- Phone: 0800 731 0469 (free, 9am–5pm Monday–Friday)
- Textphone: 0800 731 0456
- Online: GOV.UK bereavement service pages
You can also get free support from:
- Citizens Advice — help completing the form and understanding your entitlements
- Cruse Bereavement Support — emotional and practical support
- Turn2Us — grant finder and benefits calculator