If your partner has died and one or both of you were of pensionable age, you may be wondering what financial support is available to support you.
If you are both of State Pension age when your partner died
If you were both State Pension age when your partner died, your financial situation will almost certainly change in terms of your State Pension entitlement and potentially other benefits to., and there are other important things to consider regarding your own pension and any other benefits.
- Your State Pension: Your own State Pension might change. If your partner had contributed a lot to their National Insurance, you might be able to get an increase in your State Pension. This could be due to inheriting some of their Additional State Pension (also known as State Earnings-Related Pension Scheme, or SERPS). The best way to find out is to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Bereavement Service directly. They can check your personal situation and explain any changes.
- Pension Credit: This is a separate benefit that tops up your income if you’re of state pension age and on a low income. If your household income changes significantly after your partner’s death, you might become eligible for pension credit, or your existing pension credit might increase. This can also open the door to other benefits like Housing Benefit or help with NHS costs.
- Other benefits: Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to claim other benefits you weren’t eligible for before. For example, if you now live alone and need help with personal care due to an illness or disability, you might be able to claim attendance allowance. Changes to your council tax or housing benefit might also apply.
It’s worth contacting the DWP or a service like Citizens Advice. They can assess your individual situation and guide you through what you might be entitled to.
If you are of State Pension age but your partner was under State Pension age when they died
If you are of State Pension age but your partner was under State Pension age when they died, you will not be entitled to Bereavement Payment Support. This is because the State Pension system, and other age-related benefits, are designed to provide long-term support, which adjusts to new circumstances. You may be able to receive some of your partner’s State Pension. The Pension Service can advise you on this. You may also be entitled to other benefits, which are outlined above
If you are under state pension age but your partner was of state pension age when they died
If you are under state pension age but your partner was of state pension age when they died, you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment.
This is a government benefit designed to help with the immediate financial impact after a partner dies. It’s a short-term financial help predominantly for people who were of working age when their partner died, helping to replace lost income.
It’s paid in two parts: an initial lump sum, followed by up to 18 monthly payments. The amount you get depends on whether you have dependent children.
If you were not married but were cohabiting and have dependent children, or you were pregnant when your partner died, you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment, if you were under State Pension age when your partner died.
If you were cohabiting and don’t have dependent children, you are not entitled to this benefit.
You usually need to claim Bereavement Support Payment within three months of your partner’s death to get the full
amount. You can claim up to 21 months after their death, but you’ll get fewer monthly payments.
If you reach State Pension age within 18 months of your partner’s death, you may get fewer monthly payments.
Find out more about the Bereavement Payment Benefit in our guide here.
Private and workplace pensions
Beyond the State Pension, you’ll also need to contact any private or workplace pension providers your partner had. These might offer survivor’s benefits, a lump sum payment, or changes to your own pension if you were a beneficiary. Life Ledger can help notify these private pension providers for you, saving you another call. Remember, each pension scheme is different, so they will confirm your exact entitlements.
Getting personalised advice
Understanding benefits can be tricky at the best of times, let alone when you’re grieving. It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed. Because everyone’s financial situation is unique, the best step is always to get personalised advice.
Don’t hesitate to contact:
- The DWP Bereavement Service.
- Citizens Advice.
- Independent financial advisors.
They can help you understand your specific entitlements and guide you through the application processes.
We can support you with the practicalities when your partner dies
While financial support is a crucial concern, losing a partner also brings a range of administrative tasks. Beyond pensions and benefits, you’ll need to notify banks, utility companies, insurance providers, social media platforms, and many other organisations. This can feel like a heavy burden, adding stress to an already difficult time.
Life Ledger was founded by people who experienced for themselves how difficult and how time consuming the death notification process can be.
We want to save you time on endless calls and paperwork and reduce the stress and worry of sharing your difficult news countless times.
Our easy-to-use service means you can track progress, directly contact more than 1,000 companies through our platform, and upload necessary documents securely, all from one place.
We treat all information provided to us with the utmost care and security. Find out how we can support you here.
