Benefits and help with money after someone dies
Your income and financial circumstances may change if your husband, wife, partner or child dies.
You may be able to get financial support to help you with the loss of someone.
Bereavement benefits and payments
You may be able to get financial help after your bereavement. This includes:
- Funeral Support Payment – help towards the cost of a funeral if you're on low income and live in Scotland
- Bereavement Support Payment – if you're under State Pension age and have a husband, wife or civil partner who has died in the last 21 months.
- Guardian's Allowance – if you're bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may be able to claim if you're bringing up a child who has one surviving parent
There are some time limits for when you can apply for benefits, so it's important you start checking what support you could be entitled to as soon as possible.
If your income is lower
Use a benefits calculator or get local benefits advice to find out what you may be entitled to.
Benefits and payments you already get
You'll have to make new applications for some benefits and payments that your husband, wife or civil partner was getting for your family.
The death may also affect benefits you’re already getting.
Contact the organisations that pay the benefits or payments to you.
Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Service
Phone: 0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0469
Social Security Scotland
Find contact details for Social Security Scotland.
Your local council
Find contact details for your local council.
Child Benefit
You'll need to make a new claim for Child Benefit if you were not the person named as the claimant on the original claim form.
Tax credits
You should tell the Tax Credit Office about the death within one month if you've not already heard from them. Phone the Tax Credit Helpline to report the death.
Dealing with the benefits and payments of the person who died
Report the death to any government organisation who paid benefits to the person who died.
You should do this as soon as possible after getting the death certificate.
Contact Tell Us Once
Tell Us Once is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations at the one time.
A registrar will explain the Tell Us Once service when you register a death.
Find more about Tell Us Once on GOV.UK.
Contact the organisation directly
If you cannot use the Tell Us Once service, you can contact the organisation directly.
Department for Work and Pensions Bereavement Service
Phone: 0800 731 0469
Textphone: 0800 731 0464
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0469
Social Security Scotland
Find contact details for Social Security Scotland.
Your local council
Find contact details for your local council.
Tax and pensions
If you get extra money from pensions, annuities, benefits or an inheritance, you may need to pay more tax.
You may be on a lower income and need to pay less tax.
You might also be able to get extra pension payments from your husband, wife or civil partner's pension or National Insurance contributions.
Visit GOV.UK for information on your tax and pension after the death of a spouse.
Help with money and debt
You can get money advice and information from:
- Citizens Advice Scotland
- Money Helper
- Caledonia Funeral Aid
- Shelter Scotland if you're worried about your home
Money Talk Team
The Money Talk Team service offers free money and debt advice.
The service can help you understand what you’re entitled to and ways to save money.
It can help you find out:
- what benefits and other financial support you may be entitled to
- how you can manage debt
- ways to save money on your outgoings
You can get more information on the Money Talk Team website or by calling 0800 028 1456. You can also visit your local Citizens Advice Scotland for in person support.
If you have a late miscarriage
If you lose a baby before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy, you're not entitled to maternity benefits.
If you're an employee, you're entitled to Statutory Sick Pay and you should be able to get compassionate leave.
The Money Advice Service website has information on what support you can get if you have a late miscarriage.
If your baby was stillborn or has died shortly after birth
If your baby was stillborn after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy or has died shortly after birth you may be able to get financial support.
If you're an employee, you may be eligible for Statutory Maternity Pay for a maximum of 39 weeks while you're off work.
You must make your claim within 28 days of your baby's death.
You can also apply for Funeral Support Payment. You must claim within 6 months of date of the funeral.
The Money Advice Service website has information on what support you can get if your baby has died shortly after birth.
Best Start Grant
You can still get the Pregnancy and Baby Payment part of Best Start Grant for a baby that's stillborn or died after they were born.
If you're paid when you're pregnant, and your baby is stillborn or dies later, you will not need to pay any money back.
If you apply after a stillbirth or death, you can apply up to 6 months after the baby's birth date.
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