sorry to put this, but, i am on this benefit and i have spoke to other widowed people and have past the message on, anyone living in britian working or not is entitled to bereavement benefit working or not working but under pension age for 12 months from death date, sorry folks but i feel people should know i have met lovely people who could use the extra for funeral expenses myself included but it is something not offered to you, so if you or someone you know is in this situation get them to apply, it also gets back dated if claimed inside the year,i phoned dwp and explained then they put me to the right dept. its at the moment £65 week

Dorothy - so glad you posted this. I had no idea but passed it on to a colleague whose cousin has just recently been widowed. Thankyou for letting us know this XX Ailsa

Hi all ,

bear in mind that the benefit is only payable if the deceased was between the ages of 45 and retirement age and if you are receiving benefits is taken into account in full as income .

see Bereavement allowance

The £2000 Bereavement payment however does not have so may "rules" attached to it

see Bereavement payments

Other sources of help

see Bereavement Benefits in General

There could also be other sources of help if the deceased was in the Armed Forces , worked for the NHS, Local Government or in a particular Industry.

Hope this helps ..and clarifies it to a degree

Rich :)

You are right to highlight this though , as both the press and the Government make a big thing about fraud and error , when in fact the amount of unclaimed benefits far outweighs this.
Unfortunately this fuels the "scrounger" attitudes that so many people have , and will basically mean a harsher sickness and disability benefit regime . I wait til Octobers government announcements to see the hear what the real impact will be .

After Clegg's comment that "Benefits should not be regarded as compensation for someone's predicament" who knows what will happen . I for one wish to withdraw my General Election vote on the basis of breach of contract.
Sorry too political there .
normal service is resumed....

Ive done well with the typing today .. my lavender smelling wheat thingies seem to be doing the job ..only thing is i prefer the cold and they take 3 hrs to chill :(.. waits til someone invents a freezer version of a microwave that freezes things in 2 mins ;)

Rich