Website of the UK government

Overview

A Bereavement Payment is a one-off lump sum based on your late husband or wife's national insurance (NI) contributions. It used to be called Widow's Payment.

Bereavement Allowance is a regular payment, paid for 52 weeks from the bereavement, and based on your late husband or wife's national insurance (NI) contributions. It used to be called Widow's Pension.

Both the Bereavement Payment and Bereavement Allowance is available in England, Scotland and Wales only.

How to use this service

Use the appropriate link below to the Jobcentre Plus website for more information and to download a claim form in PDF format.

You can claim both Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payment. The form comes with notes that will help you fill it in and tell you where to send the completed form.

You should claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.

To access the form you will need a copy of Adobe Reader. Information on how to download this for free is available on the right panel of this page.

• Bereavement Payment (opens new window)
• Bereavement Allowance (opens new window)

More useful links

• Department for Work and Pensions (opens new window)
• Northern Ireland Social Security Agency (opens new window)