Coping with your Practical Concerns

Many people experience some money worries after bereavement, facing the challenge of running a house on their own for the first time in years, for example. Therefore, it is a good idea to check if you are entitled to any welfare benefits.

Some widows, widowers or surviving civil partners are entitled to special bereavement benefits and, if you now have less money coming in, you may be able to claim for Pension Credit or Council Tax Benefit. The Department for Work and Pensions, as well as organisations such as Age UK, provide detailed information about benefits to which you may be entitled.

Debts

Normally debts, including funeral expenses, are paid from the deceased's estate. Relatives who have instructed the funeral director to act may have to pay, from their own income or savings, the difference between what is available from the estate and the final invoice from the funeral director. A funeral director's invoice is usually due for payment within 30 days from the date of the invoice.

Before paying debts or sharing out the money and possessions, the executor should wait six months to allow time for creditors (people the deceased owes money to) to claim payment from the estate.

Typical debts might include Income Support overpayments or National Insurance owed at the date of death. If these are not paid back, they may affect any benefits received by the surviving spouse. A solicitor will be able to advise you accordingly.

Bereavement Support Payment

If your husband, wife or civil partner has passed away then you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment. This is intended to help widowed partners adjust to a change in household income. When your partner died, you must have been under State Pension age, living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits or married to your partner, in a civil partnership with them, or living with them as if you were married. If your partner has paid a certain amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any one year since 6th April 1975 or died because of an accident at work or disease caused at work and are under the state pension age or living in the UK or country that pays bereavement benefits.

You must apply within 3 months of your partner’s death to claim the full amount of Bereavement Support Payment. However, you have up to 21 months after the death to make a claim, but you will receive less money. If it has been over 21 months then you may still be able to make a claim if the cause of death has recently been confirmed.

If you think you may be eligible then call the Bereavement Service Helpline on 0800 151 2012.