Widowed Parent's Allowance vs Bereavement Support Payment: What Changed in 2026/27
Widowed Parent's Allowance was replaced by Bereavement Support Payment for deaths on or after 6 April 2017. How the two benefits differ, and who is still receiving the older one in 2026/27.
Two different systems for the same purpose
Both benefits exist to support a surviving spouse or civil partner financially after bereavement — but they work very differently, and which one applies to someone depends entirely on when the death occurred, not on any choice the claimant makes.
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Open Benefit Entitlement calculatorWidowed Parent's Allowance: the old system
Widowed Parent's Allowance was an ongoing weekly payment, available to widowed parents with dependent children, that could continue for a long period — potentially for years, until the youngest qualifying child stopped being eligible for Child Benefit (broadly, when they left full-time non-advanced education). It was based on the late spouse's National Insurance record, in a similar way to how the State Pension is calculated.
It generally stopped if the recipient remarried, formed a new civil partnership, or began living with a new partner as if married.
Bereavement Support Payment: the current system
For deaths on or after 6 April 2017, Widowed Parent's Allowance closed to new claims and was replaced by Bereavement Support Payment — a fixed-term benefit consisting of an initial lump sum followed by 18 monthly payments, then stopping completely regardless of whether the claimant still has dependent children at that point.
uk-marriage-allowance-complete-guide-2026The practical difference in total value
The two systems can produce very different total amounts depending on circumstances:
- A widowed parent with a young child who, under the old system, would have received Widowed Parent's Allowance for 10+ years could receive substantially more in total than the fixed 18-month Bereavement Support Payment provides.
- Someone whose Widowed Parent's Allowance entitlement would have ended relatively soon anyway — for example because their youngest child was close to finishing full-time education — may find Bereavement Support Payment's guaranteed, front-loaded amount broadly comparable, or in some cases more generous in the short term.
If you are still receiving Widowed Parent's Allowance
If your spouse or civil partner died before 6 April 2017 and you have been receiving Widowed Parent's Allowance since, you continue to receive it under the old rules — you were not moved onto Bereavement Support Payment when the new system was introduced, and no action is required on your part to keep receiving it, provided your circumstances (such as remarriage) have not changed.
Bottom line
Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Support Payment are not two options to choose between — which one applies is determined entirely by the date of death. Anyone bereaved from 6 April 2017 onwards falls under Bereavement Support Payment's fixed 18-month structure, while those already receiving the older allowance from before that date continue under the previous, potentially longer-running system.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Bereavement Support Payment
- GOV.UK: Widowed Parent's Allowance
Frequently asked questions
Is Widowed Parent's Allowance still available in 2026/27?
No, not for new claims. Widowed Parent's Allowance was closed to new claimants for deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2017. It was replaced by Bereavement Support Payment. People already receiving Widowed Parent's Allowance from before that date continue to receive it under the old rules.
What was the key difference between the two benefits?
Widowed Parent's Allowance was an ongoing weekly payment that could continue for years, potentially until a claimant's youngest child left full-time education, whereas Bereavement Support Payment is a fixed lump sum plus 18 monthly payments and then stops entirely, regardless of whether dependent children remain.
Why did the government replace Widowed Parent's Allowance?
The government's stated aim was to simplify bereavement benefits and provide more support in the immediate period after a death, when costs are typically highest, rather than spreading a smaller amount over a longer, open-ended period.
Can someone still receiving Widowed Parent's Allowance lose it?
Yes — Widowed Parent's Allowance generally stops if the recipient remarries, enters a new civil partnership, or lives with a new partner as if married, and it also stops once the youngest qualifying child is no longer eligible for Child Benefit.
Is Bereavement Support Payment worth more or less overall than Widowed Parent's Allowance was?
It depends heavily on individual circumstances. A parent with young children who would have received Widowed Parent's Allowance for many years could receive substantially more in total under the old system than the fixed 18-month Bereavement Support Payment, while someone whose entitlement would have ended sooner may find the newer system's guaranteed amount comparable or better.
Does either benefit affect Universal Credit?
Yes, both count as income for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit, which can reduce the Universal Credit award while the payments are being received.
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