Bereavement Support Payment calculator
Bereavement Support Payment pays a first lump sum followed by monthly payments, as set out on gov.uk. The higher rate, for a claimant with children or who was pregnant, is £3,500 then 18 monthly payments of £350. The standard rate is £2,500 then 18 payments of £100. Claim within 3 months for the full amount.
How much is Bereavement Support Payment?
The payment has two parts: a first lump sum, then a run of monthly payments for up to 18 months. There are two rates, per gov.uk. A claimant entitled to Child Benefit when their partner died, or who was pregnant, receives the higher rate of £3,500 up front and £350 a month. A claimant who does not meet that test receives the standard rate of £2,500 up front and £100 a month.
Timing affects the monthly part of the payment. Per gov.uk, claiming within 3 months of the death secures the full lump sum and every monthly payment. A claim can still be made later, up to 21 months after the death, but the number of monthly payments due falls the longer the claim is delayed. The lump sum stays the same as long as the claim is made inside the 21-month window. The payment is tax-free and does not reduce other benefits. Only the Department for Work and Pensions decides an award, and a calculator result is not evidence of entitlement.
How much would a parent with children receive in total?
A claimant with children who claims within a month of the death receives the higher rate: a £3,500 first payment and 18 monthly payments of £350, a total of £9,800 over 18 months, per gov.uk. A claimant with no children claiming at the same point receives the standard rate: £2,500 up front plus £100 a month, £4,300 in total.
Common questions
How much is Bereavement Support Payment?
There are two rates. The higher rate, for people who were getting Child Benefit or were pregnant, is a £3,500 first payment then 18 monthly payments of £350. The standard rate is a £2,500 first payment then 18 monthly payments of £100.
What is the difference between the higher and standard rate?
You get the higher rate if you were entitled to Child Benefit when your partner died, or if you were pregnant at the time. Everyone else who qualifies gets the standard rate. The tool picks the rate from whether you have children.
When do I need to claim by?
Claim within 3 months of the death to get the full first payment and all 18 monthly payments. You can still claim up to 21 months after, but you lose one monthly payment for roughly each month you wait beyond the first 3.
Does Bereavement Support Payment affect my other benefits?
The payments do not count as income for other benefits, and they are tax-free. They are also ignored for the benefit cap for a year. This is meant to give you breathing space without cutting your Universal Credit or other support.
Who can claim it?
You can usually claim if your husband, wife or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017, you were under State Pension age at the time, and you normally live in the UK. Since February 2023 cohabiting partners with children can also qualify. Check the full rules with the Bereavement Service.
How much would a parent with children receive in total?
A person with children who claims within a month of the death gets the higher rate: a £3,500 first payment and 18 monthly payments of £350, totalling £9,800, according to gov.uk. A person with no children instead receives the standard rate, a lower total of £4,300 over the same 18 months. Only the Department for Work and Pensions can confirm the rate and total that apply to a given claim.
Sources & Rate Verification
Rates verified against official statutory guidance on 6 September 2026.