Help for those who are left
- Help for the bereaved
- Help for relatives of war pensioners
- Help for lone parent families
- Help to bring up someone else’s child
- Not enough money to live on?
- New Tax Credits
- Help with health costs
- Tax
A death in the family can cause money problems for those who are left. This may only be for a short time, while you wait for the administration of the deceased’s estate to be completed, or you may need long-term help.
This section is about social security benefits that can help you when someone dies. Many Jobcentre Plus offices, Jobcentres and social security offices also have someone who can advise you.
General information
The Government introduced a new system of bereavement benefits for men and women from 9 April 2001. Those getting Widow’s Pension or Widowed Mother’s Allowance will continue to get them for as long as they satisfy the existing entitlement conditions.
For general social security benefit information contact a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. For your nearest office look for the display advert under Department for Work and Pensions in the business numbers section of the phone book. Benefit rates are in leaflet GL23 “Social security benefit rates”, which you can get from a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre, social security office, advice centre or post office.
Help for the bereaved
If you are widowed there are different kinds of payments you can get. The benefit you get may depend on your age or the number of children you have living with you. The amount you can get is based on your husband’s or wife’s National Insurance (NI) contributions. Do not delay in making your claim or you may lose benefit.
If you do not have enough to live on
If you cannot get a full pension because of a shortfall in your husband’s or wife’s contributions, and they died because of an accident at work or an industrial disease, the DWP will treat your case as if your husband or wife had a full contribution record.
You may qualify for bereavement benefits and other related benefits if you have established, or can establish, a ‘marriage by cohabitation with habit and repute’ under Scots law. Such a marriage can be confirmed by a decree of declarator of marriage from the Court of Session. You may not need this declarator to get benefit if a social security decision maker decides the court would be likely to grant it. Ask your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office for more information.
If you remarry
If you remarry or live with someone as husband and wife, you will not be able to go on getting bereavement benefits or widow’s benefits.
Bereavement Payment
If your husband or wife died on or after 9 April 2001 you may get a Bereavement Payment. This is a tax-free lump sum paid as soon as you are widowed if your husband or wife had paid enough NI contributions and one of the following applies:
- your husband or wife was not entitled to CAT A state Retirement Pension when they died
- or you were under state pension age when your husband or wife died.
Pensionable age will be equalised at 65 for both men and women from 6 April 2020. The change from the current state pension age of 60 for women to 65 will be phased in over a ten-year period from 2010 to 2020.
How to claim
You must claim within 3 months of your husband’s or wife’s death. For claims that relate to deaths that occur on or after 1 April 2003, the period for claiming Bereavement Payment has been extended to 12 months. For more information, contact your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. Fill in the form 334SI which the registrar gave you and hand it to your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office without delay. They will give you claim form BB1. If for any reason you do not have form 334SI from the registrar do not delay in making your claim.
More information
See leaflet WIDA5DWP "If you are widowed or your civil partner dies" and leaflet NP45 “A guide to Bereavement Benefits”. If you were already getting Retirement Pension when your husband or wife died see leaflet NP46 “A guide to State Retirement Pensions”.
Bereavement Allowance
You may be able to get Bereavement Allowance if you were aged 45 or over but below state pension age when your husband or wife died. If you are entitled to Bereavement Allowance, the amount you can get depends on your age when your husband or wife died and their National Insurance contributions.
If you were aged 55 or over, you will get the full rate of Bereavement Allowance. If you were under 55, you will get less than the full amount. Bereavement Allowance is payable from the date of bereavement for a maximum of 52 weeks. It will stop if you become entitled to State Retirement Pension before the end of the 52 weeks.Bereavement Allowance cannot include any Additional Pension and is paid at the basic rate only.
How to claim
Bereavement Allowance is usually paid following a claim on form BB1. If for any reason you do not have form 334SI from the registrar do not delay in making your claim. Contact your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office straightaway. Time limits for claiming Bereavement Allowance remain at 3 months from the date of death.
More information
See leaflet WIDA5DWP "If you are widowed or your civil partner dies" and leaflet NP45 “A guide to Bereavement Benefits”.
Widowed Parent's Allowance
You may be able to get Widowed Parent’s Allowance if:
- your husband or wife died on or after 9 April 2001 and you have at least one child for whom you can get Child Benefit and you are under pension age
- or you are expecting a child by your late husband or as the result of artificial insemination or ‘in vitro’ fertilisation.
How much?
You will get a basic rate of Widowed Parent’s Allowance and an Additional Pension based on your husband’s or wife’s earnings. Your basic rate of Widowed Parent’s Allowance will depend on your husband or wife’s National Insurance record.
How to claim
Widowed Parent’s Allowance is usually paid following a claim on form BB1. If for any reason you do not have form 334SI from the registrar do not delay in making your claim. Contact your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office straightaway. Time limits for claiming Widowed Parent’s Allowance remain at 3 months from the date of death.
More information
See leaflet WIDA5DWP "If you are widowed or your civil partner dies" and leaflet NP45 “A guide to Bereavement Benefits”.
Maternity benefits
If you are pregnant you may be entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) from your employer or Maternity Allowance from your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. You may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant from the Social Fund.
How to get maternity benefits
To get SMP you must have been in the same employment without a break for at least 26 weeks up to and including the 15th week before the week your baby is due. You must be earning enough on average to be relevant for NI contributions (this is lower than the amount when you have to start paying NI contributions). Show your employers your maternity certificate MATB1. If you cannot get SMP you may be able to get Maternity Allowance. To qualify you must have:
- been employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 week period ending with the week before the week your baby is due
- and earn at least £30 a week on average.
To claim get form MA1 from a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office, maternity or child health clinic. If you are employed, your employer should give you form SMP1 to put with form MA1. You will also need to send in your maternity certificate MATB1.
If your claim for Maternity Allowance is not allowed, you will automatically be considered for Incapacity Benefit for the period beginning 6 weeks before your baby is due and ending 2 weeks after the birth.
You may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant from the Social Fund if you are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element and/or Working Tax Credit where there is a disability or severe disability element included in the award.
More information
For more information get leaflet NI17A “A guide to maternity benefits” from a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. The leaflet SB16 also provides more information about qualifying for Sure Start Maternity Grants.
State Pension
If both you and your husband or wife were getting the basic state pension when they died, you may be able to use their NI contributions to get extra basic pension. If you were over state pension age when your husband or wife died, you may be able to get basic state pension based on your own or their NI contributions, or a combination of both, which is subject to an upper limit.
You may also be able to inherit all or some of your late spouse’s additional pension. You may know this as State Earnings- Related Pension (SERPS) or State Second Pension. If you were both over state pension age when you were widowed, you can inherit SERPS straightaway. The amount you can inherit depends on the date your husband or wife reached state pension age and the date you were widowed. For more information, see leaflet SERPS L1 “Inheritance of SERPS – Important information for married people”.
A husband may also be entitled to a Bereavement Payment of £2000 where his wife was in receipt of a Category BL pension and satisfies the contribution conditions.
How to claim
Fill in the form with the certificate of registration of death which the registrar gave you and hand it to your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office without delay. If for any reason you do not have form 334SI from the registrar do not delay in making your claim.
More information
See leaflet NP46 “A guide to State Pensions”.
Incapacity Benefit
If you cannot get Incapacity Benefit on your own NI contributions and you have been incapable of work for 52 weeks, you may qualify for long-term Incapacity Benefit on your late husband’s or wife’s contributions if:
- you were incapable of work when Widowed Parent’s Allowance ended
- or if you were not entitled to an allowance, you were incapable of work when your husband or wife died
- and you were not entitled to a Bereavement Allowance, or only got a reduced one, because you were under 55 when your husband or wife died, or when your Widowed Parent’s Allowance ended.
You may also qualify if you are:
- under 45 and not entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance or have ceased to qualify for it
- and you were incapable of work at the time of your husband’s or wife’s death.
Incapacity Benefit is normally replaced by Retirement Pension when you retire or reach state pension age.
How to claim
If you are an employee and cannot get Statutory Sick Pay get claim pack SSP1 from your employer. Everyone else should claim on form SC1 – get it from a doctor, hospital, Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. Enclose a doctor’s statement with your claim if you have been sick for more than 7 days.
More information
See leaflet IB202 “Incapacity Benefit – information for new customers”.
Pneumoconiosis (including Asbestosis), Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit
If your husband or wife died as a result of pneumoconiosis, byssinosis or one of certain other diseases which they got from work before 5 July 1948, get leaflet DB1 from a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. The leaflet tells you how to claim.
More information
For more details of the Industrial Injuries scheme see leaflets SD6 Ill or disabled because of a disease or deafness caused by work and SD7 “Disabled because of an accident at work”. The diseases covered by the Industrial Injuries scheme are listed in leaflet DB1 “A guide to Industrial Injuries Scheme benefits”.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
If your husband or wife:
- was disabled as a result of an industrial accident or industrial disease that occurred before their death
- and was not getting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit you may be able to claim it now for a period before their death. Do not delay in making your claim or you may lose benefit.
For more details of the Industrial Injuries scheme see leaflets SD6 “Ill or disabled because of a disease or deafness caused by work” and SD7 “Disabled because of an accident at work”. The diseases covered by the Industrial Injuries scheme are listed in leaflet DB1 “A guide to Industrial Injuries Scheme Benefits”. If you want to know more or want to make a claim, ask at your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office straight away.
Help for relatives of War pensioners
War Pensions for Widows
War Widow’s Pension is paid if any of the following applies:
- your husband’s death was due to or hastened by his service in HM Armed Forces
- or your husband’s death resulted from a war injury or war risk injury as a merchant seaman
- or your husband was getting a War Disablement Pension at the 80 per cent rate or higher and was getting Unemployability Supplement
- or your husband’s death was due to or hastened by his service with the Polish Forces under British command in the 1939–45 war, or with the Polish Resettlement Forces
- or your husband was in receipt of Constant Attendance Allowance under the War Pension Scheme at the time of his death
- or your husband was a Civil Defence Volunteer or a civilian and his death was due to or hastened by a war injury or war service injury sustained in the 1939–45 war.
How much you get depends on your age, your husband’s rank in the Armed Forces and the number of children you have. If your husband was getting war pensioner’s Constant Attendance Allowance or Unemployability Supplement, you will get a temporary allowance for the first 26 weeks after his death, whatever the cause of his death. If you qualify for a social security bereavement benefit, your temporary allowance will be reduced each week to take back the money you have already had. The amount of money paid is normally more than a War Widow’s Pension or bereavement benefit. After 26 weeks you may receive a War Widow’s Pension or bereavement benefit.
How to claim
Contact:
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Tomlinson House
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys
Lancashire
FY5 3WP
or phone the Veterans Free Helpline free on 0800 169 2277. People with speech/hearing problems using textphones should dial 0800 169 34 58.
More information
See WPA Leaflet 1 “Notes about War Disablement and War Widow’s Pensions” and WPA Leaflet 9 “Rates of War Pensions and allowances”.
The War Pensioners’ Welfare Service can help with various problems and will visit you at home. For your nearest office look in the display advert under War Pensions Agency in the business numbers section of the phone book or ask at a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. Families of people who have served in the Armed Forces can also get advice from the Soldiers’, Sailors’ and Airmen’s Families Association (SSAFA).
War Pensions for other dependants
In certain circumstances war pensions may also be paid to the children or widowers of someone who died as a result of service in the Armed Forces or as a result of injury as a merchant seaman in a war or as a civilian in the 1939–45 war.
How to claim and more information
- See under ‘War pensions for widows’.
Help for lone parent families
Child Benefit (lone parent)
Child Benefit (Lone Parent) is a higher rate of Child Benefit for the only or eldest child of a person bringing up children on their own. From 6 July 1998 this is not available to new lone parents but in certain circumstances you may still be able to receive it.
If you were a lone parent getting a specified benefit since before 6 July 1998 and that benefit has now stopped, you may be entitled to Child Benefit (Lone Parent) provided you claim within one month of coming off the specified benefit.
The specified benefits are:
- Child’s Special Allowance
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance
- War Widow’s Pension
- Carer’s Allowance
- State Retirement Pension
- Unemployability Supplement paid with Industrial Injuries.
- Disablement Benefit at the higher rate for a child (paid with Industrial Injuries Widow’s Pension).
Some lone parents coming off benefit to start work may also be able to claim Child Benefit (Lone Parent).
Use the form in leaflet CH11 “Child Benefit for lone parents” which you can get from a Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office. Do not delay in making your claim or you may lose benefit.
More information
See leaflet CH11 “Child Benefit for lone parents”. Lone parent families on a low income may also be able to claim:
- Child Benefit
- Guardian's Allowance
- Income Support
- Jobseeker's Allowance
- Pension Credit
- New Tax Credits
- Working Tax Credit
- and Child Tax Credit.
Help to bring up someone else's child
Guardian's Allowance
If you are bringing up someone else’s child you may qualify for Guardian’s Allowance. You must be entitled to Child Benefit for the child. Normally both the child’s parents must be dead but sometimes Guardian’s Allowance may be paid if one parent is dead and the other cannot be traced or is serving a long prison sentence, or if the child’s parents were divorced and the parent still alive was not awarded custody of the child. It may also be paid if the child’s mother is dead and the father is not known.
How to claim
Claim at the same time as you apply for Child Benefit or as soon after this as possible. Fill in claim form BG1. If you have not already claimed Child Benefit you will also need the pack Claiming Child Benefit.
More information
See leaflet NI14 “Guardian’s Allowance”.
Not enough money to live on?
Income Support
Income Support is a social security benefit for people aged between 16 and 60 whose income is below a certain level. You may be able to get Income Support if you are not expected to sign on as unemployed and you are, for instance:
- incapable of work due to sickness or disability
- or bringing up children on your own
- or looking after a person who has a disability
- or registered blind.
You cannot normally get Income Support if you are working on average for 16 hours or more a week or if you have a partner (spouse or someone you live with as if you are married to them) who works on average 24 or more hours a week. You can get Income Support on top of other benefits or on top of earnings from part-time work. You must not have over £8,000 in savings. Special rules apply if you live in a residential care home or nursing home.
How to claim
Contact your Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre or social security office for a claim form. Do not delay in making your claim or you may lose benefit.
More information
For more detailed information, see leaflet IS20 “A guide to Income Support”.
Jobseeker's Allowance
If you are under state pension age, unemployed and looking for work you may be able to get Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). You cannot normally get JSA if you are working on average for 16 or more hours a week or if you have a partner(a spouse or someone you live with as if you are married to them) who works on average for 24 or more hours a week.
If you have paid enough NI contributions you may be able to get contribution-based JSA for yourself for up to 6 months. If you are not entitled to contribution-based JSA, or it does not meet your needs, you may qualify for income-based JSA. You can get income-based JSA on top of some other benefits or on top of earnings from part-time work. You must not have over £8,000 in savings (£12,000if you are aged 60 or over).
How to claim
Contact your Jobcentre for a claim form. Do not delay in making your claim or you may lose benefit.
More information
See leaflet JSAL5 “Jobseeker’s Allowance – Helping you back to work”.
Pension Credit
People aged 60 and over will be able to apply for Pension Credit. Pension Credit tops up the weekly income of people aged 60 and over to a minimum level set by the government. This level is called the ‘appropriate amount’. It means that you are guaranteed to get a certain level of income. We compare the amount you already have coming in each week with the appropriate amount. If your income is less than the appropriate amount, we make up the difference with a guarantee credit.
How to apply
Contact the Pension Credit Application Line on 0800 99 1234.
More information
See leaflet PC1L “Pension Credit. Pick it up. It’s yours”.
New tax credits
In April 2003, two new tax credits, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, were introduced to replace Working Families’ Tax Credit, Disabled Person’s Tax Credit and the Children’s Tax Credit. Both of these new credits are administered by and claimed from the Inland Revenue.
Working Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit is a tax credit to top up the earnings of working people. It is intended to make work pay more than benefits. Working Tax Credit can be claimed if you:
- are aged 16 or over
- work at least 16 hours a week
- and are responsible for a child or young person or you have a disability which puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job
- or are aged 50 or over and are returning to work after a 6-month period on qualifying out-of-work benefits.
- If you do not have children or a disability that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job and you are not aged 50 or over and are returning to work after a 6-month period on qualifying out-of-work benefits.
You can also claim Working Tax Credit if you:
- are aged 25 or over
- and work at least 30 hours a week.
Working Tax Credit is available to self-employed people and employees.
Child Tax Credit
Child Tax Credit is a payment to support families with children. It can be claimed by those responsible for one or more child or young person.
Child Tax Credit:
- is paid in addition to Child Benefit
- can provide income for families with children, whether in or out of work
- is normally paid to the main carer.
How to claim
To find out more about Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit and to get the application form TC600, visit: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits. You can claim online too.
If you’d rather ring the Inland Revenue, call the Helpline on the following numbers:
England, Scotland and Wales: 0845 300 3900
Northern Ireland only: 0845 603 2000
Textphone for people with hearing or speech difficulties:
England, Scotland and Wales: 0845 300 3909
Northern Ireland only: 0845 607 6078
If you need help or a form in Welsh, please telephone: 0845 302 1489
All lines open: 8am–8pm seven days a week (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and Easter Sunday).
The Welsh language line is only open weekdays 8.30am to 5.00pm.
You can also claim by contacting your local Jobcentre, Jobcentre Plus or social security office.
Housing Benefit
You may be able to get help with your rent from your council. Even if you work or have savings, you can still get help. If you are aged under 60 and you have more than £16,000 in savings and investments, you will not be able to get Housing Benefit. If you are aged 60 or above and have more than £16,000 in savings, you may still get help if you receive Pension Credit. If you get Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit, you may be able to get help with other housing costs such as some of your mortgage interest, some maintenance or insurance or both. This will be included in your Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit entitlement.
How to claim
If you apply for Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit, the application forms will include a form to claim Housing Benefit. Otherwise contact your local council. For details of help towards other housing costs ask at your Jobcentre Plus, Jobcentre, Pension Service or social security office.
More information
See leaflet GL16 “Help with your rent”. You can get it from the council, Pension Service, Jobcentre Plus office, Jobcentre, social security office or an advice centre.
Council Tax Benefit
Most owner-occupiers or tenants, including joint tenants, have to pay council tax. There is one bill for each dwelling. If you are on a low income and find it hard to pay your full council tax, you may be able to get help from your local council, whether you are working or not. Nearly all the rules which apply to Housing Benefit also apply to Council Tax Benefit. The amount of help you can get depends on how much money you have coming in, your personal circumstances, your savings and how much council tax you have to pay. If you have a partner, your combined income and savings will be looked at to see what help you and your partner could get.
You may get a Second Adult Rebate if someone over 18 on a low income lives with you but is not your partner and does not pay you rent. If you qualify for Council Tax Benefit and Second Adult Rebate, the council will award you the bigger amount of the two.
How to claim
If you apply for Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit, the application forms will include a form to claim Council Tax Benefit. Otherwise contact your local council.
More information
See leaflet GL17 “Help with your council tax”.
Help with health costs
While you are getting:
- Income Support, or
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or
- Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit, or
- Working Tax Credit with a disability element, or
- Child Tax Credit and are not eligible for Working Tax Credit
- and your gross annual income does not exceed the figure shown on the front page of your tax credit award notice or
- you are named on a Tax Credit NHS Exemption Certificate
you can get help with health costs. If not, you may be able to get help with health costs through the NHS Low Income Scheme. You can get a claim form HC1 from Jobcentre Plus or social security offices. For information about help with health costs phone the Advice Line on 0800 91 77 711.
Tax
You may have to pay tax on social security benefits. You can find out more from Inland Revenue leaflet IR45 “What to do about tax when someone dies”.
If you are in any doubt, you can ask any Tax Enquiry Centre, Tax Office or a Citizens Advice Bureau for free advice. (Tax offices are listed under Inland Revenue in the business numbers section of the phone book.) The Inland Revenue Internet site is: