Widowed Parent's Allowance
What you'll get
The amount you get is based on how much your partner paid in National Insurance contributions.
The maximum Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) is £148.40 a week.
If your partner died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work, you may claim WPA even if they did not pay National Insurance contributions.
You’ll continue to get WPA until you either:
- stop being entitled to Child Benefit
- reach State Pension age
How WPA is paid
WPA is usually paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Report changes that affect other benefits
Other benefit payments you get may change when you start claiming WPA.
Once you get WPA, you must report it if you’re getting any of the following:
- Income Support
- Incapacity Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer Support Payment
- Employment and Support Allowance
- Universal Credit
If you do not report changes straight away, you could be paid the wrong amount and have to pay it back. You might also have to pay a fine.
The benefit cap
The benefit cap limits the total amount of benefit you can get. It applies to most people aged 16 or over who have not reached State Pension age.
Some individual benefits are not affected, but it may affect the total amount of benefit you get.