8.1.1 Overview of Income Support Bereavement Payment

Last amended: 26 July 2007

What is a bereavement payment?

A bereavement payment provides financial assistance to a pensioner if their partner or a dependent child dies. This allows time for the pensioner to make changes to their finances before any changes are made to the rate of pension he or she is receiving.

Who can a bereavement payment be paid in respect of?

An income support bereavement payment can be paid in respect of a person receiving service pension or income support supplement.

Types of bereavement payment

For persons receiving service pension or income support supplement, there are 3 different types of bereavement payment:

• Single Pensioner Bereavement Payment,    
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  Single Pensioner Bereavement Payment

  Section 8.1.3

   

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• Partnered Pensioner Bereavement Payment, and    
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  Partnered Pensioner Bereavement Payment

  Section 8.1.4

   

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• Dependent Child Bereavement Payment.    
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  Dependent Child Bereavement Payment

  Section 8.1.5

   

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How does a bereavement payment work

A bereavement payment continues the pension entitlements of the deceased person for the duration of a period known as a bereavement period.

How is a bereavement payment paid

A bereavement payment can be paid wholly or partly as a lump sum depending on the type of bereavement payment and case circumstances.

Payment is typically made to the partner of the deceased pensioner or to the estate of the deceased single pensioners.

PCC eligibility continues for duration of bereavement period

As a bereavement payment continues a person's pension entitlement, the PCC eligibility requirement for pension to be received is satisfied. Where the surviving partner's pension entitlement is otherwise reduced to nil, the PCC card remains valid until the end of the bereavement period.