Bereavement Payment: DWP Death Grant
This guide explains how to claim the £2,000 non taxable Bereavement Payment. It is the DWP death benefit for those bereaved by the loss of a spouse or civil partner.
BEREAVEMENT GRANT UK: To qualify, your spouse or civil partner must have died 'before' the 6th of April in the year 2017.
Note: The new Bereavement Support Payment has replaced most claims for this type of benefit. It now applies when the death occurs from the 6th of April 2017 onwards.
This information clarifies how to claim the Bereavement Payment benefit. Recipients would make their claim using the DWP BB1 Form.
Check to see if you are eligible to get this single lump sum and tax-free remittance of £2,000.
Bereavement Payment Eligibility Criteria
You can only get the Bereavement Payment if at the time your spouse or civil partner died, you were either:
- Below the State Pension age.
- Above the State Pension age but your spouse or partner did not qualify for a State Pension due to their NIC.
Beside this, your spouse or civil partner must either have:
- Paid adequate National Insurance contributions.
- Died because of an industrial accident or a disease from work.
Bereavement Payment Qualifying Conditions
You would not be eligible to claim for the United Kingdom bereavement grant if you:
- Are serving time in prison.
- Were divorced from your husband, wife or civil partner.
- Are living with another person as husband, wife, or civil partner.
But, there are other bereavement benefits which you may have entitlement for such as:
- The Bereavement Allowance (previously called the Widow's Pension).
- The Widowed Parent's Allowance for those bringing up children.
Note: There is no need to apply more than once. Initial applications get considered for all relevant bereavement benefits.
Claim Bereavement Payment from Abroad
Contact the International Pension Centre to find out whether you can claim. But you must include your National Insurance number, full name, and your date of birth.
Bereavement and Widows' Benefits
Telephone: +44 191 21 87608
Check UK phone call charges.
Department for Work and Pensions
Bereavement and Widows' Benefits
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE98 1BA
How to Claim Bereavement Payment
You can either make an application by telephone or you can use a form.
Apply for Bereavement Payment by Form
Download the Bereavement benefits claim form BB1 with guidance notes. You can also order it by phone from Jobcentre Plus. Fill in the BB1 claim form and deliver it to Jobcentre Plus or mail it to:
Dover Benefit Centre
Post Handling Site B
Wolverhampton
WV99 1LA
Note: Once the office gets the application form the maximum time the claim can get backdated is three (3) months.
Apply for Bereavement Payment by Phone
Bereavement Service Helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language: 0800 731 0456
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
DWP Bereavement Benefit Payment Deadline
Claims for Bereavement Payment can take place up to 12 months after your husband, wife or civil partner dies. But, if you are claiming for the Widowed Parent's Allowance or Bereavement Allowance you should claim within three (3) months.
Note: Bereavement Payments get paid into a bank account (or similar). Law changes on appeals mean you must usually ask for 'mandatory reconsideration' first. You can then appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you disagree with a decision.
Bereavement Payment affect on Benefits
Bereavement Payment may affect your usual entitlement to some benefits. Contact the JobCentre Plus adviser to check how it might affect your claim for:
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
Challenging a Decision
There is a set process to follow if you disagree with a decision on Bereavement Payment. As a rule, you must now ask for a mandatory reconsideration before making any appeal.
How to Claim Bereavement Payment: DWP Death Benefit Form BB1
