The benefits that you will be able to get will depend upon your individual circumstances. Listed below are some of the main benefits that you may be able to get.
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Bereavement Payment
This is a one-off lump sum payment of £2000 paid to a bereaved person where their late spouse or civil partner met the National Insurance conditions for the payments or the person died as the result of an industrial injury or disease. You need to be under pension age when your spouse or civil partner died. You will also qualify if you are over pension age as long as your late spouse or civil partner was not entitled to a retirement pension at the time of their death. The claim must be made within 12 months of the date of the death of the spouse/civil partner or it cannot be paid – unless you were unaware of the date of the death until after 12 months when there may be an extension given
Widowed Parents Allowance
This is paid to pregnant widows/civil partners or idows, widowers or civil partners who entitled to child benefit for at least one child. You normally have to be under pension age. Your late spouse or civil partner needs to meet the National Insurance contribution conditions or to have died as a result of an industrial injury or disease. If you claim late, there is normally a maximum of 3 months backdating. You will also need to tell the Tax Credit Office of of the death of your spouse/civil partner if you already receive Child Tax Credit – this may change because of your change in financial circumstances.
Bereavement Allowance
This is paid for up to 52 weeks where the widow, widower or civil partner were 45 or over but under pension age when the spouse or civil partner died. You need to remain under pension age to be entitled and your late spouse or civil partner needs to meet the National Insurance rules or have died as a result of an industrial disease or accident. (You cannot receive bereavement allowance and widowed parents allowance at the same time). If you claim late, there is normally a maximum of 3 months backdating. If you are under 55 when your spouse/civil partner dies, there will be a reduced rate of Bereavement Allowance paid. When your Bereavement Allowance ends, you may want to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support if you meet the rules for these or Pension Credit if you are aged 60 or over.
Funeral Grant
A Funeral Expenses Payment can be claimed through the Social Fund where it is appropriate for you to arrange and take responsibility for the funeral and you are on one of the following qualifying benefits: Income Support, Income-based JSA, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit or the tax credits paid above a certain rate.. You may find that you qualify for one of these benefits only following the death of your spouse or civil partner but if you make the claim in time you will then be able to apply for the Funeral Expenses Payment.
You may want to ask about the Hounslow Community Funeral Scheme before you make arrangements for a funeral.
Jobseekers Allowance
Paid to people who are unemployed, willing and able to take up work immediately and actively seeking work. There are some concessions on the number of hours you can be expected to work : normally 40 but down to a minimum of 16 hours if a carer or there are limiting health or disability needs. You will have to sign a Jobseekers Agreement with Jobcentre Plus.
There are two types of Jobseekers Allowance - contribution-based and income-based Jobseekers Allowance. Contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance is paid if you have paid (or been credited with) enough National Insurance contributions in the appropriate tax years before you claim. Contribution-based JSA is not means-tested but it is only paid for 6 months.
Income-based JSA is means tested and will be affected by most income that you have. Income-based JSA is not paid if you have savings over £16000 and if you work 16 hours per week. Income-based JSA can help with mortgage payments.
If you have a pension payment from an occupational or personal pension scheme any amount over £50 a week will be deducted from your contribution-based JSA entitlement and the whole amount would be offset against income-based JSA.
Income Support
Paid to people under the age of 60, who do not have to sign on because they are not expected to find work, for example because you are sick, a carer or a single parent. The benefit is means tested and will be affected by most income that you have coming in. Cannot be paid if you work 16 hours or more per week. Cannot be paid if you have savings over £16000. Income Support can help with mortgage payments.
Tax Credits
Working Tax Credit can be paid if you work at least 16 hours per week and you have children or you have an illness or disability or you are working at least 30 hours per week and are 25 or over. There are special rules if you are 50 or over and work at least 16 hours per week. Child Tax Credit can be claimed if you have at least one dependant child under age 16 or 16-19 if they are still in full time education or unwaged training on a course no higher than A level standard. Tax Credits are means tested and are paid by HM Revenue & Customs although most people will qualify for some Child Tax Credit if their income is below £58,000 (£66,000 if the child is under 12 months).
Housing and Council Tax Benefit
Paid if you are responsible for rent and/or council tax and you are on a low income from earnings, pensions or benefits. It is a means tested benefit and cannot be claimed if you have savings over £16,000 There are special rules if you are 60 or over. This benefit is claimed from the local authority. If your late spouse or civil partner had made the claim for one or both of these benefits, you will need to make a new claim in your name following their death.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Housing Benefit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Council Tax Benefit
Housing and Council Tax benefit
Health Benefits
NHS Health Benefits
These can be claimed for working adults and their partners if you are on a low income and you do not have savings over £16,000 and need help with prescription costs, dental or opticians fees, travelling to hospital or for surgical aids. They can also be claimed by people who are not working but have an income from benefits or other income such as maintenance. If you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you will automatically qualify for full help with these NHS costs. There are also some other circumstances when you can get this help such as where there are very severe optical needs or you have specified illnesses or are pregnant or with a baby under 12 months (the savings rules do not apply in these circumstances) or if you are age 60 or over. You may also qualify for help with NHS health costs if you get working tax credit and child tax credit together.
For more information about who qualifies for help with NHS health benefits visit the direct.gov website:
Other information
If your late spouse or civil partner was the person who had made the claim for an income-based (means-tested) benefit such as Income Support or Council Tax Benefit, you will need to make a claim in your name following their death as otherwise the benefit stops at their death.
When you register the death, you will be given a second copy of the death certificate for social security benefit purposes to use to advise the Department of Work and Pensions of the correct date of death in relation to any benefits your late spouse/partner had been getting. The Registrars Office will notify the local council of the date of death for council tax purposes.
Your bereavement benefits and other benefits entitlement will be affected if you get a new partner so get advice about how your benefits will be affected before you change your circumstances.
If there is someone in the family who is sick or disabled see also the section: Benefits - sick or disabled.
The benefits and tax credits that you may be able to apply for will depend upon your circumstances. If you are not sure about anything you should always seek advice. You can call us on our public helpline number 020 8583 5016