7. HELP IF YOUR HUSBAND, WIFE OR CIVIL PARTNER DIES

If your husband, wife or civil partner dies, you may be entitled to:

• Bereavement Payment (a lump sum);

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance (if you have dependent children);

• Bereavement Allowance (if you have no dependent children); and

• some inherited State Earnings-Related or Additional Pension.

You cannot get bereavement benefits if you:

• are divorced;

• remarry or live with someone as a couple without being legally married or in a civil partnership; or

• are in prison or being held in legal custody.

Help with funeral payments is available to people on means-tested benefits through the Social Fund (see chapter 1).