BEREAVEMENT
BENEFITS - APRIL 2007
Benefits for widowed persons
are currently the subject of a great deal of confusion. This is
because substantial changes were made to the help available on 9/4/01
of which many are not aware. Women who were already getting the
widow’s pension when these changes were made have no cause
for worry. They will continue to receive that pension up to the
point when they switch over to the retirement pension. For persons
bereaved on or after 9/4/01 - or in the case of civil partners on
or after 5/12/05 - the benefits available are as follows.
1. Bereavement Payment.
This is a one off lump sum payment
of £2,000. It is payable to persons who are under state pension
age or, if they are older than this, where the deceased spouse /civil
partner was not in receipt of a pension based on their own national
insurance record. Between 9/4/01 and 1/4/03 this benefit had to
be claimed within three months of the death. This has now changed
so that the claim must be made within twelve months of the death.
2. Widowed Parent’s
Allowance.
This is payable to persons widowed after 9/4/01 and under state
retirement age. This benefit superseded the widowed mother’s
allowance though, here again, those already getting that benefit
continue to do so. Widowed Parent’s Allowance is payable to
bereaved persons with dependent children. The basic rate is currently
£87.30. Bereaved persons may also receive an additional amount
under the additional state pension scheme. Those who claimed before
6/4/03 also received – and may continue to receive an amount
for each child. Where the claim is made on, or after, 6/4/03, however,
no additions for children are payable and a claim for child tax
credit should be made. Widowed Parent’s Allowance is paid
to those under retirement age for as long as they have dependent
children - that is at least one child qualifying for child benefit.
If a late claim is made for Widowed Parent’s Allowance benefit
can only be backdated for three months. In other words, if a claim
is lodged six months after the death the claimant will lose three
months money. Persons claiming widowed parent’s allowance
may also claim the Bereavement Payment (above) but not the Bereavement
Allowance (below).
3. Bereavement Allowance.
This is payable to people, without dependent children who are aged
45 or over when bereaved. The full rate is £87.30 but this
is reduced where the bereaved person is under 55 when widowed. Thus,
for example, a person aged 54 is currently entitled to £81.19.
The key point about bereavement allowance is that it is only payable
for up to 52 weeks. The widow’s pension, which bereavement
allowance replaced, was payable up to the point at which retirement
pension was claimed. Late claims can only be backdated for three
months thus a claim lodged six months after the death would result
in benefit being payable for only nine months. Bereavement allowance
is not payable on top of the widowed parent’s allowance.
Other points
to note
1. These benefits are not means-tested so no account is
taken of income or savings.
2. Entitlement to these
benefits depends on the national insurance record of the deceased
spouse/civil partner unless the death is the consequence of industrial
injury.
3. These benefits are
payable to both men and women but, whereas most men will have the
contribution record required to give their widows access to these
benefits this will not necessarily be the case when it is the wife
who dies.
4. For further information
contact your local CAB or independent advice centre or the website
of the Social Security Agency – ssani.gov.uk
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for the content of external websites
Fact
Sheet compiled for On Your Behalf by Professor Eileen Evason
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