Bereavement

Bereavement benefits are derived from the Social Security Contributions and Benefits, NI Act, 1992, as amended by the Welfare Reform and Pensions NI Order, 1999. The former widow’s pension was reformed considerably in April 2001. The provisions apply to bereaved civil partners after 2005.

A one-off bereavement payment of £2000 may be payable to persons under pensionable age at the time of bereavement or if older where the deceased spouse is not entitled to a retirement pension. The spouse must have paid Class 1, 2, or 3 contributions in any tax year with an earnings factor of 52 times the lower earnings limit and died as a result of an injury, industrial injury, or disease.

Persons under pensionable age who are widowed after 2001 with dependent children of whom they are entitled to the child benefit qualify for widowed parents allowance. The basic rate is £84.25. Claimants before 2003 receive additions.

The payment continues for as long as the parent has at least one child. It ceases on remarriage or cohabitation. The persons may claim the above bereavement payment but not the bereavement allowance mentioned below.

The spouse must make contributions in any tax year with an earnings factor of 52 times the lower limit and paid the mean credit contributions of the relevant number of years of their working lives or died as an industrial — result of an industrial injury or disease.

A bereavement allowance is payable to persons under pensionable age who are bereaved at 45 or above. This is £84.25 per week payable only to persons aged 55 or one widowed, the reduced scale applies increasing from £25, £28 between £45 and £55.

The contribution conditions above for a widowed parent’s allowance apply where the sum is payable only for 52 weeks. This contrasts with the former widow’s pension which paid right up to retirement.