SE76171 - Social Security benefits: Bereavement payment

Section 36A Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992

Bereavement payment (BP)

BP replaced widow's payment from 9 April 2001. BP is a tax-free lump sum (£2,000 in 2001/02) payable to a claimant immediately following the death of a spouse, if two conditions are met:

• the late husband or wife met the National Insurance Contributions conditions or his or her death was caused by the job; and
• either the claimant or their deceased spouse was not entitled to state retirement pension at the date of death or the claimant was under state pension age when their husband or wife died.
  
  Depending on circumstances a claimant in receipt of BP may also be entitled to widowed parent's allowance ( SE76172) or bereavement allowance ( SE76173).