What benefits and pensions can I claim when my partner dies?

Bereavement Support Payment is the main state benefit after a husband, wife or civil partner dies. You must have been under State Pension age, and your partner must have paid enough National Insurance or died because of an accident at work or a work-related illness. It isn't means-tested, so your savings and earnings don't matter.

The deadline is what catches people out:

• Within 3 months of the death: you get the lump sum and all 18 monthly payments.
• 3 to 12 months: you get the lump sum and some monthly payments.
• 12 to 21 months: you get no lump sum and only some monthly payments.
• After 21 months: you usually get nothing.

It won't affect your other benefits for a year after the first payment, but tell your benefits office you are getting it. If you reach State Pension age within 18 months, you may get fewer monthly payments. In Northern Ireland you apply through nidirect instead. Our calculator shows what you might get.

Start with his paperwork. Look for annual pension statements, payslips showing pension deductions and bank statements with payments to pension companies. Past employers can tell you whether he was in their workplace scheme.

Tell Us Once only reaches a few public sector schemes, such as the NHS, Civil Service and Local Government Pension Schemes. Every other scheme needs a letter or call from you, with a copy of the death certificate.

If you know the name of an employer but not the scheme, the government's free Pension Tracing Service can find contact details. You can search online or call 0800 731 0175, weekdays from 10am to 3pm. It can't tell you whether he had a pension or what it is worth, only who to ask.

It depends on the type of scheme. A pension pot (defined contribution) usually goes to whoever he nominated on an expression of wish form, and the scheme decides. If he died before 75, money from it is usually tax-free.

A final salary or career average scheme (defined benefit) usually pays a survivor's pension for life. The amount is set by the scheme's own rules and varies from scheme to scheme, so ask the administrator for the exact figure.

If he had bought an annuity, it only continues if he chose a joint-life option or a guarantee period. Our page on what happens to a husband's pension covers each type and the State Pension in detail.

If you inherit a pension pot and are 50 or over, Pension Wise offers free guidance on your options. Don't feel you have to choose quickly.

Many people have cover their family doesn't know about. Check his bank statements for regular payments to insurers. Ask his employer whether he had death-in-service cover. It is usually paid by the scheme's trustees rather than through his will.

Also look for mortgage protection and payment protection on loans and credit cards. Each insurer will need a death certificate and a claim form.

A survivor's pension from a final salary scheme is taxed as income, whatever age he was. So is income from a pot he left if he died at 75 or over. It is added to your own income, and in 2026/27 the first £12,570 of your total income is usually tax-free in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has different Income Tax bands.

The scheme will normally take tax off before paying you, using a tax code from HMRC. If a new pension starts on an emergency code, you may pay too much at first. Check your payslips or pension statements, and contact HMRC if the code looks wrong. Bereavement Support Payment is not counted as taxable income.

Your household income may have fallen even if his pension continues. It is worth checking again what you qualify for.

If you are under State Pension age and on a low income, you may be able to claim Universal Credit. If you are over State Pension age, Pension Credit tops up a low income and can be claimed even if you own your home or have some savings. If you already get either, report the death as a change of circumstances.

If you now live alone, ask your council for the 25% single person discount on Council Tax. Charities such as Turn2us and Citizens Advice can help you check other benefits and grants.