Bereavement benefit

Bereavement benefit is paid to the window/widower and/or orphans of a person who has died.

United Kingdom

Bereavement benefit replaced Widow's benefit in the United Kingdom in April 2001. It is a social security benefit that is designed to support people who have recently lost their spouse, and need some financial support to help them get back on their feet. A similar benefit is provided in Malta in accordance to the "Widows and Orphans Pension Act" of 1927.

The qualifying conditions are as follows:

It is required that the deceased and the claimant be married at the time of death.

Bereavement benefit consists of 2 parts, firstly:

1. Bereavement payment of £2000 which is a one off tax free lump sum payable if the deceased spouse has paid 25 National Insurance contributions.

Secondly the succeeding benefit, of which there is 3 main types:

1. Bereavement allowance, which is payable to widow(er)s aged 55 and over at the time of being widowed. This runs for 52 weeks or until the customer reaches Retirement age (whichever is sooner). The amount payable is dependent upon the deceased spouses National Insurance contributions.

2. Bereavement allowance age related, which is payable to widow(er)s aged 45 to 54 at the time of being widowed. This runs for 52 weeks or until the customer reaches Retirement age (whichever is sooner). The amount payable is dependent upon an age related % of the deceased spouses National Insurance contributions.

3. Widowed parents allowance. This is payable to widow(er)s who have dependent children whom they are in receipt of child benefit for. The amount payable is dependent upon the deceased spouses National Insurance contributions. plus any additional pension they may have eared. Widowed parents allowance is payable until the customer stops getting child benefit for their dependents.

None of these succeeding benefits are payable over retirement pension age. However bereavement payment of £2000 may be payable if the deceased was not in receipt of a category A retirement pension.

Ireland

In Ireland, a window/widower is able to receive the Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension ("Pinsean Ranníocach Baintrí (Fir agus Mná)"), the Bereavement Grant ("Deontas Báis"), the Widowed Parents Grant ("Deontas Báis Bhaintrí/Bhaintrí Fir") and/or the Special Funeral Grant ("Deontas Speiseálta Sochraide").

Payments for the Widow's/Widower's Pension are as follows:

For each child dependant, €22.00 (€24.00 from January 2008) is added.

More information on the Widow's/Widower's Pension scheme can be found [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/widows_contrib_pension here] .

The Bereavement Grant is a simple one-off payment of €850, given after a death to the deceased's family. More information can be found [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/standard_bereavement_grant here] and [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/bereavement_grant here] .

The Widowed Parents Grant is another one-off payment of €6,000, given to widows/widowers with one or more child dependants living with them. However, there are other rules regarding the payment; more information can be found [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/widowed_persons_bereavement_grant here] .

The Special Funeral Grant is another one-off payment of €850, given to the deceased's family. It is only available if the person dies at work. More information can be found [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/special_funeral_grant?set_language=en here] .

All benefits are paid for by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in Ireland.

References

External links

* [http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Bereaved/index.htm Directgov (UK) website, Bereavement page]
* [http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits Citizens Information (Ireland) website, Death related benefits page]