Bereavement Payment & Bereavement Allowance

CountDrakma

Can anybody shed some light to my wife's potential entitlement to these benefits and payments please? I've asked govt depts numerous times for a simple straightforward yes/no answer but they just will not provide one . The last reply I got was to ask for a pensions forecast! I've trawled the various gov.uk sites and I'm none the wiser.

I'm simply trying to establish my wife's entitlement to Bereavement Payment & Allowance should I pass away.

I know that I already have 41 qualifying NIC years up to 5/5/15 towards a full state pension even though I do have a NIC shortfall of £132 for 2007-8. We both meet all the other criteria for bereavement payment & allowance.

So, with me having already accrued full state pension NIs does this not in itself automatically entitle my wife to bereavement allowance and bereavement payment? If not how so? Must I pay them my £132 shortfall for her to get these benefits & payment (they don't tell me!).?

Thank you. (Shame that the very people who should be clarifying this either can't or won't - very frustrating).

pmlindyloo

CountDrakma wrote: »

Can anybody shed some light to my wife's potential entitlement to these benefits and payments please? I've asked govt depts numerous times for a simple straightforward yes/no answer but they just will not provide one . The last reply I got was to ask for a pensions forecast! I've trawled the various gov.uk sites and I'm none the wiser.

I'm simply trying to establish my wife's entitlement to Bereavement Payment & Allowance should I pass away.

I know that I already have 41 qualifying NIC years up to 5/5/15 towards a full state pension even though I do have a NIC shortfall of £132 for 2007-8. We both meet all the other criteria for bereavement payment & allowance.

So, with me having already accrued full state pension NIs does this not in itself automatically entitle my wife to bereavement allowance and bereavement payment? If not how so? Must I pay them my £132 shortfall for her to get these benefits & payment (they don't tell me!).?

Thank you. (Shame that the very people who should be clarifying this either can't or won't - very frustrating).

The current system of bereavement payments are set to change in 2017.

This is the legislation

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/19/section/30/enacted

However, the amounts to be paid have not (as far as I know) been stipulated.

Of course, all this could change in the future.

This new legislation is an attempt to make things simpler.

Indicative amounts:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmworpen/551/55109.htm

CountDrakma

Thanks pm lindyloo. I'll take a look at those links. (Don't know why they couldn't have told me the same).
Much appreciated

thorsoak

Once you or your wife is in receipt of pension, there is no entitlement to any bereavement payment/allowance.

CountDrakma

Thank you Thorsoak. Although I was aware of that condition of entitlement I was still keen to establish eligibility. Appreciate your reply though.

And once again pmlindyloo thanks. Have looked at the links and they are very helpful.

Cheers both.:beer: