Bereavement Support Payment

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How to claim

How you apply depends on where you are.

If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales

The quickest way to apply is by phone. You can also apply using a paper form.

Apply by phone

Bereavement Service helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0469
Welsh language: 0800 731 0453

Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Welsh language: 0800 731 0456

Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0469

Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use this service

Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Find out about call charges

Apply using a paper form

To get a form, you can either:

Fill in the claim form and send it to:

Bereavement Support Payment
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2BS

If you’re in Northern Ireland

There’s a different process in Northern Ireland.

If you’re abroad

Call the International Pension Centre to apply.

International Pension Centre
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 218 7608
Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 3.30pm
Find out about call charges

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Part of What to do when someone dies: step by step

  1. Step 1 Register the death

    1. Register the death within 5 days

    Check what to do if:

    To stop or change benefits payments you can tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about the death straight away.

  2. Step 2 Arrange the funeral

    1. Arrange the funeral
    2. Find bereavement services from your local council
    3. Get help paying for a funeral
    4. Get help paying for a child's funeral
    5. Find bereavement help and support

  3. Step 3 Tell government about the death

    The Tell Us Once service allows you to inform all the relevant government departments when someone dies.

    1. Use the Tell Us Once service to tell government
    2. If you cannot use Tell Us Once, tell government yourself

    You'll also need to tell banks, utility companies, and landlords or housing associations yourself.

  4. Step 4 Check if you can get bereavement benefits

    You might be eligible for financial help.

    Check if you can get:

  5. and Deal with your own benefits, pension and taxes

    Your tax, benefit claims and pension might change depending on your relationship with the person who died.

    1. Manage your tax, pensions and benefits if your spouse has died
    2. Check how benefits are affected if a child dies

  6. and Check if you need to apply to stay in the UK

    If your right to live in the UK depends on your relationship with someone who died you might need to apply for a new visa.

    Check the rules if:

    1. Contact UKVI to check the rules for other visas

  7. Step 5 Deal with their estate

    You might have to deal with the will, money and property of the person who's died if you're a close friend or relative, or the executor of the will.

    1. Check if you need to apply for probate
    2. Value the estate
    3. Deal with the estate
    4. Update property records