You may be eligible to receive a Bereavement Payment which is a tax-free payment of up to £2,000. To get Bereavement Payments, you must have been below state pension age when your husband, wife or civil partner died, or – if you were over state pension age – they must not have been entitled to state retirement pension, based on their own national insurance contributions, when they died. You must claim within twelve months.

The DWP Bereavement Service can take your claim for bereavement benefits over the phone and do a benefit’s check to see if you qualify for any other benefits as a result of the death.

Contact them for more details of the assistance available.

Telephone: 0800 731 0469 Or visit them online at www.dwp.gov.uk