This page combines the main bereavement support questions into one place: whether Bereavement Support Payment is available, whether Guardian’s Allowance looks relevant and whether Funeral Expenses Payment may be in scope. It is a practical guide, not a replacement for the official claim forms.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT
Bereavement support calculator
Bereavement support estimate
£4,300
- BSP lump sum
- £2,500
- BSP monthly payments
- £100
- Guardian’s Allowance yearly
- £0
- Funeral Expenses Payment
- Potentially eligible
Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested. Funeral Expenses Payment and related support depend on benefit status and relationship rules, and Scotland uses a different funeral-support scheme.
Use Tell Us Once after the death is registered to notify most government organisations in one go.
Check whether Bereavement Support Payment and Guardian’s Allowance look relevant, then see whether Funeral Expenses Payment is likely to be in scope. Use Tell Us Once guidance as the next step after registration.
This page combines the main bereavement support questions into one place: whether Bereavement Support Payment is available, whether Guardian’s Allowance looks relevant and whether Funeral Expenses Payment may be in scope. It is a practical guide, not a replacement for the official claim forms.
A surviving partner under State Pension age with a qualifying National Insurance record and a dependent child may see a higher Bereavement Support Payment rate. A different household that is arranging a funeral and receives a qualifying benefit may instead be looking at Funeral Expenses Payment rather than BSP.
- Relationship status, State Pension age, NI contributions and the claim window can all affect Bereavement Support Payment eligibility.
- Guardian’s Allowance depends on responsible-caring circumstances for a child whose parents have died.
- Scotland uses a different funeral-support scheme, so the funeral-help question is not identical across the UK.
SOURCES & REVIEW
Checked against official guidance
Last reviewed 19 October 2026 · Rule version GB-2026.27.1
Daily/weekly source monitoring. If a source changes, the affected rule set is reviewed before publication.
All source links are kept visible so you can verify the figures used on this page.
Source line: Bereavement support, Guardian’s Allowance and funeral-help rules are checked against current GOV.UK eligibility and rates guidance.
GOV.UK: Bereavement Support Payment eligibility ↗GOV.UK: Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility ↗GOV.UK: After a death - Tell Us Once ↗Sources, methodology and update policy →Report an issue or correction →WHY RESULTS DIFFER
Why two users can see different results
Why the result can differ
Different tax codes, payroll periods, Scottish bands, pension methods or lender assumptions can change the outcome.
One-off bonuses, pay frequency, overpayments, allowances and reliefs can move the result away from a simple annual estimate.
Where a rule depends on eligibility or legal status, this page shows an estimate and links to official guidance.
This section is intentionally repeated on key tools so the explanation stays near the result instead of being hidden in a separate policy page.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Is Bereavement Support Payment means-tested?
No. Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested.
Can I use this for funeral costs?
It can show whether Funeral Expenses Payment might be relevant, but the official claim rules still decide the outcome.
Does Scotland use the same funeral support scheme?
No. Scotland uses a different funeral-support scheme, so the outcome can differ.
What should I do first after a death is registered?
Use Tell Us Once to notify most government organisations, then check the relevant bereavement or funeral-support claim route.