Part 5Bereavement support payment
30Bereavement support payment
1
A person is entitled to a benefit called bereavement support payment if—
a
the person's spouse or civil partner dies,
b
the person is under pensionable age when the spouse or civil partner dies,
c
the person is ordinarily resident in Great Britain, or a specified territory, when the spouse or civil partner dies, and
d
the contribution condition is met (see section 31).
2
The Secretary of State must by regulations specify—
a
the rate of the benefit, and
b
the period for which it is payable.
3
The regulations may specify different rates for different periods.
4
In the case of a person who is pregnant or entitled to child benefit in specified circumstances, the regulations may—
a
specify a higher rate;
b
provide for the allowance to be payable for a longer period.
5
A person is not entitled to bereavement support payment for periods after the person has reached pensionable age.
6
A person is not entitled to bereavement support payment if the death occurred before this section came fully into force.
7
In this section—
“pensionable age” has the meaning given by the rules in paragraph 1 of Schedule 4 to the Pensions Act 1995;
“specified territory” means a territory specified in regulations made by the Secretary of State.