Thousands of spouses who have lost their husbands, wives or civil partners may be missing out on thousands of pounds worth of benefits.

The benefits are made to people of working age who claim within a strict time limit, but some coroners are believed to not be giving bereaved partners the information they need to make the claim

There are around 30,000 deaths each year caused suddenly or unexpectedly that are therefore referred to the local coroner, whose job is to issue an interim death certificate and issue a government booklet about the bereavement benefits on offer and how to claim.

One such example of this is given by a man who lost his wife in a road accident. He explained: “I didn’t receive anything after the inquest 10 months after her death then I was told to go to the Registrar and was given a booklet.

“Widowed Parent’s Allowance can only be backdated by three months so I missed six months of that. I lost about £2,300.

“There is also a Bereavement Payment of £2,000 which has to be claimed within 12 months. I did get that but if the inquest had lasted any longer I wouldn’t have been able to claim that either.”

The chief executive for Child Poverty Action Group, Kate Green says: “We need a joined-up way to make sure information is given to individuals and families.

“The government needs to be much more proactive to make sure people understand and get their rights.”

What Are You Entitled To?

No bereavement benefits are means tested, and are paid out on the National Insurance contributions of the person who has died.

Payments can be claimed by the spouse or civil partner of the person who has died if the deceased is not entitled to retirement pension or the widow or widower is under the pension age.

The £2,000 payment is tax free and needs to be made within 12 months of death.

Bereavement Allowance is available to widows between the age of 45 and pension age.

The other benefit is taxable at £95.25 per week if the widow is 55, and less if the widow is younger, and is paid for 52 weeks.

Widowed Parent’s Allowance is available for people under pension age who have children under 19. It is a minimum of £95.25 a week and is taxable.

What Do You think?

Were you aware of these benefits? Could your family have benefited from these in the past but you knew nothing about them? Does more need to be done to make the public more aware of what they are entitled to? We would love to know your thoughts and opinions. Leave your comments here.