Bereavement Support Payment 2026/27: Lump Sum and Monthly Amounts Explained
Bereavement Support Payment 2026/27: the higher rate pays a £3,500 lump sum plus 18 monthly payments of £350 (£9,800 total); the standard rate pays £2,500 plus 18 payments of £100 (£4,300 total).
What Bereavement Support Payment is
Bereavement Support Payment replaced the older Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance for deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2017. It is a tax-free payment to help with the financial shock of losing a spouse or civil partner, paid as an initial lump sum followed by 18 monthly instalments.
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Estimate your monthly Universal Credit using 2026/27 standard allowances, child elements and the 55% taper.
Open Benefit Entitlement calculatorThe two rates for 2026/27
| Lump sum | Monthly payment (×18) | Total over 18 months | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £3,500 | £350 | £9,800 |
| Standard rate | £2,500 | £100 | £4,300 |
You qualify for the higher rate if, when your spouse or civil partner died, you were entitled to Child Benefit (even if you had not yet claimed it), or you were pregnant. Everyone else who meets the general eligibility conditions receives the standard rate.
Worked example: higher rate claimant
A widowed parent with two dependent children, entitled to Child Benefit at the time of their partner's death, claims promptly.
- Initial payment: £3,500 lump sum + £350 first monthly instalment = £3,850 in month one
- Following 17 months: £350 × 17 = £5,950
- Total received over 18 months: £3,500 + (£350 × 18) = £9,800
Worked example: standard rate claimant
A widow with no dependent children, not pregnant at the time of her husband's death, claims within the three-month window.
- Initial payment: £2,500 lump sum + £100 first monthly instalment = £2,600 in month one
- Following 17 months: £100 × 17 = £1,700
- Total received over 18 months: £2,500 + (£100 × 18) = £4,300
Eligibility conditions
To qualify, you generally need to have been under State Pension age when your spouse or civil partner died, and your late spouse or civil partner must have paid enough National Insurance contributions (or died because of an industrial accident or disease, which removes the NI condition). You cannot claim if you were divorced, in a dissolved civil partnership, or living with a new partner as if married at the time of the death.
How it interacts with other benefits
Bereavement Support Payment is tax-free, but it can still count as income for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit, potentially reducing those awards in the months payments are received. The lump sum itself is usually disregarded as savings for 12 months. If you already claim, or expect to claim, means-tested benefits, it is worth checking how the timing of a Bereavement Support Payment claim interacts with them.
uk-marriage-allowance-complete-guide-2026Bottom line
Bereavement Support Payment provides £9,800 (higher rate) or £4,300 (standard rate) over 18 months to help surviving spouses and civil partners cope with the immediate and medium-term financial impact of bereavement. Claiming within three months of the death ensures you receive every payment in full.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How much is Bereavement Support Payment in 2026/27?
There are two rates. The higher rate pays a £3,500 lump sum followed by 18 monthly payments of £350, totalling £9,800. The standard rate pays a £2,500 lump sum followed by 18 monthly payments of £100, totalling £4,300.
Who gets the higher rate of Bereavement Support Payment?
You get the higher rate if you were entitled to (or receiving) Child Benefit when your spouse or civil partner died, or you were pregnant at the time. Everyone else who is eligible gets the standard rate.
How long does Bereavement Support Payment last?
Payments run for 18 months from the date of death: an initial lump sum, followed by 18 further monthly instalments. The first payment includes both the lump sum and the first monthly amount together.
Is Bereavement Support Payment taxable?
No, Bereavement Support Payment is tax-free and does not need to be declared as income for Income Tax purposes.
Does Bereavement Support Payment affect other benefits?
It can affect means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit, because it counts as income (though the lump sum is usually disregarded for 12 months). It's worth checking how a claim interacts with any other benefits you receive before or shortly after claiming.
How quickly must I claim Bereavement Support Payment?
You should claim within three months of your spouse or civil partner's death to receive the full amount; claiming later can mean losing some monthly payments, and claims made more than 21 months after the death are not normally accepted at all.
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