Membership Of The Family: Death Of A Claimant (Info)

Death of a lone parent claimant

If a claimant who was a lone parent at the date of claim dies, the award is not transferable to another person. If the claimant had appointed an executorand the executor is taking over the responsibility of the child(ren) you should ask the executor to make a fresh claim as the person responsible for the child.

Death of a claimant with a surviving partner

If a claimant dies and they leave a partner, the surviving partner will be invited to make a fresh claim provided that they were the partner at the date of claim.

Death of both a claimant and partner

If both the claimant and partner die during the period of an award, the award ceases. If an executor has been appointed and the executor is taking over responsibility of a child, the executor will be asked to make a fresh claim as the person responsible for the child.

Death of a child

A deceased child or young person can still be treated as a member of the family for a period of 8 weeks immediately following the date of death, or for a young person, the date on which he or she would have attained the age of 19, if earlier.

This only applies where the family was (or would have been if they had applied), entitled to child tax credit for the child or young person immediately before the death.

For further guidance on action to take when a claimant dies see Changes.