Widowed Parents Allowance

If your spouse died on or after the 9th April 2001, or your civil partner died on or after the 5th December 2005, and you are left pregnant or bringing up children you may be entitled to the Widowed Parents Allowance. This is a benefit which aims to assist people left in a difficult financial situation following a bereavement by giving them a little extra income to help them cover their expenses. You may qualify for Widowed Parents Allowance if:

• Your spouse or civil partner has died, and
• Your late partner paid National Insurance contributions, and
• You are currently under State Pension Age, and
• You are pregnant with your late partner’s baby or bringing up a child for whom you are receiving Child Benefit

Or

•  Your spouse or civil partner died due to their job

Or

• You are pregnant with your late partner’s baby and the baby was conceived after fertility treatment

You will not be entitled to receive this allowance if you are currently in prison, if you remarry or form another civil partnership following your late partner’s death, or if you were divorced from your late partner at the time of their death.

If you wish to claim Widowed Parents Allowance you should contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or contact Jobcentre Plus direct on 0800 055 6688. If you are entitled to receive Widowed Parents Allowance you may be paid up to a maximum of £87.30 a week, which will be paid into an account you nominate, via direct debit. You will be entitled to continue receiving the benefit for as long as you are entitled to receive Child Benefit. Widowed Parents Allowance may be taken into account when calculating your entitlements to other state benefits.