After A Death
The time after a death is the worst time to have to deal with leaflets and forms. However, this factsheet is designed to give you all the information about benefits you could claim and how any benefits you receive could be affected.
You will need to inform the Department for Works and Pensions that the person claiming benefits has died. It is best to write to the office that pays the benefit the person received.
Funeral Costs
If you get Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit (including disability element) or Child Tax Credit (at a rate greater than the family element) you might be able to get a payment for funeral expenses from the Social Fund. These benefits are called qualifying benefits. In order to claim this payment, you or your partner must take responsibility for the funeral of a person who was ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.
Who can claim?
You can claim if:
- You were the spouse or civil partner, or the cohabiting partner, of the deceased when he or she died.
- The deceased was a child who you were responsible for, or the deceased was a stillborn child.
- You were a close relative or close friend of the deceased and it is reasonable for you to accept responsibility for the funeral costs.
How do you claim?
Claim on form SF200. You must claim within three months of the date of the funeral. If you are waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit you should still claim within the time limits and then reclaim within three months of getting the qualifying benefit.
Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance and Pension Credit
You may be able to get Income Support to top up a low income or other benefits. If you are aged over 60 you will need to claim Pension Credit rather than Income Support. If you have not claimed on time ask for your Income Support to be backdated. Contact your local Department for Work and Pensions Office to make an application. If you are actively seeking and are available for work you may be able to apply for Income Based Jobseekers Allowance. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus Office to make an application.
Housing Costs
You can get help with mortgage interest payments with Income Support, Income Based Jobseekers Allowance and Pension Credit, but there is a waiting period for anyone aged 59 or under which is explained below. If your partner has died and you have a child, 50% of your eligible mortgage interest can be included in your benefit calculation after eight weeks, and 100% can be included after 26 weeks.
If you do not have a child you will have to wait 39 weeks to get eligible mortgage interest included as part of your benefit calculation, when it will be paid at the 100% rate.
Rent
Housing Benefit might help towards paying your rent if your savings are less than £16,000. If you are getting the Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit you may qualify for Housing Benefit even if your savings are above this amount.
Council Tax
You may get a council tax discount of 25% if your partner has died. You should tell the Council where you pay your Council Tax so you can get a discount. Depending on your circumstances you may get more money off your Council Tax in the form of Council Tax Benefit if your savings are less than £16,000. If you are getting the Guarantee Credit of Pension Credit you may qualify for Council Tax Benefit even if your savings are above this amount.
Bereavement Benefits
These benefits can be claimed by both men and women.
There are three different benefits:
- Bereavement payment—a one off payment of £2,000
- Widowed Parent’s Allowance if you have children
- Bereavement Allowance—paid for one year
You may qualify if your wife, husband or civil partner paid enough National Insurance contributions (or ‘stamps’), or if they died because of an industrial accident or prescribed industrial disease.
Need more advice?
Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parents Allowance are not payable for any period when you are living with an unmarried partner or did not have a civil partnership. If you remarry or register a new civil partnership the benefit stops.
How to make an application
Claim bereavement benefits from your local Department for Work and Pensions Office. If you make a late claim for Bereavement Allowance or Widowed Parent’s Allowance it can be backdated up to 3 months.
What happens to other benefits?
Bereavement benefits overlap with Incapacity Benefit, Carer’s Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Contribution Based Jobseekers Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Unemployability Supplement and Retirement Pension. You will get an amount equal to the higher of the overlapped benefits. Carer’s Allowance can continue for up to 8 weeks after the death of the person you cared for. The 8 weeks start from the Sunday following the death or on the day if the death is on a Sunday.
Death of a child
If you have been getting benefit paid for your child the agencies concerned need to be informed. The benefits listed here have a run on period and will continue for eight weeks after a child has died:
- Carer’s Allowance;
- Child Benefit;
- Child Tax Credit;
- Carer premium, paid as part of Income Support;
- Child allowances paid with means tested benefits.
This is information on your rights and responsibilities and is to be used as guidance and not legal advice. Information correct as of April 2008.
After Death Apr 08.pdf (3 pages, 330kb)
