EIM76170 - Social security benefits: bereavement benefits: summary
From 9 April 2001 a new system of bereavement benefits (BB) for
widows and widowers replaced the previous widow's benefits (WB).
For details of WB before 9 April 2001 see
EIM76176.
BB replace the WB previously available only to widows of
working age, but the changes do not affect those receiving WB
before 9 April 2001. Widows receiving widowed mother's allowance
(see
EIM76177) or widow's pension (see
EIM76178) before that date, who meet the
previous entitlement conditions, continue to receive WB.
Bereavement benefits (BB)
These benefits are available to people who were legally married or in a civil partnership but are not available to:
- persons divorced from their late husband or wife or whose civil partnership has been dissolved
- persons who remarry following the death of a husband or wife or forms a new civil partnership
- persons living with someone else as husband or wife or a civil partners
- persons in prison or in legal custody.
Types of BB
There are three types of BB:
- bereavement payment, see EIM76171
- widowed parent's allowance, see EIM76172
- bereavement allowance, see EIM76173.
Information
If claimants ask for advice and/or help in claiming BB they should be directed to the nearest Benefit Agency Office.
