Bereavement allowances - what is the best way to apply?

[Evenstar]

I am a new widow (feel unable to post in bereavement) cannot deal with anything yet as unable to register death and obtain a certificate due to post mortem/coroner's involvement (sudden death). Is it best to apply in person at benefits office or online which is quicker? Thanks for any help you can give me.

a phone call should do and they should be helpful and coroner will sort out a lot for you.big hugs to youxx

No helpful advice - everything in the immediate aftermath of my mum's death is such a blur - just wanted to acknowledge your post, and pass on my condolences.

Lots of people here (sadly) will be able to help you.

Thank you for your replies, I am just so unsure of how to do everything - you never imagine that something like this will happen.

I think (sadly) OJ has just had to deal with this aswell. Give them a call. xx

evenstar martian bishop posted on something similar to this yesterday i think apparently if your dh passed away before retirement and had paid contributions theres a £2000 grant.
sorry for your loss x

I am so sorry to hear of your loss, evenstar.

This must be awful for you Evenstar. Did your dh have a will?

evenstar, maybe www.entitledto.com will help you out a bit

I'm so very sorry, dealing with this and the shock must be unbearable, hugs sent really tight to you

Evenstar - I am sorry I have no advice to give you about benefits, but just wanted to say how very sorry I am that your DH has passed away.

MN can be a bitchy place sometime, but when you really need support and people to lean on, this is the place to come .

Sending a huig x

when I went to register steves death I was given a pack which tells you all the things you need to do, I still have lots of forms to do, there is a funeral grant £2000 widows pension and another payment I think it is called bereavement benefit/grant there is a form in the pack which has to be sent off quickly I think it goes to the DWP and that is intended to stop any benefits that your Dh had.
I cant remember everything as like you everything is a bit of a blur make sure you have peole around you as you will need lots of help to sort things out at a time when you really don't feel you can be responsilble for much more than breathing. Please get in touch if I can help in anyway.
so so sorry you are facing this.
Sending you gentle hugs

your local jobcentre should have the forms you need I think the main forms are BB1 BB2 and SF200.
make sure you get some help with them.

Evenstar, I'm not a regular here, but happened to come across your threads and felt compelled to write. I lost my DW four years ago tomorrow and can all too well remember the initial fear, confusion and utter exhaustion from the heightened emotions.

Hopefully you will have someone close you can help you with the 'business' side of your terrible loss, but do not feel you need to rush - do everything at you own pace. From memory, the Bereavement benefit can be claimed at any point within 3 months before you lose anything - although it will prob help to have it coming in as soon as possible.

You and your family are in my thoughts.

DadToTwo, i just saw your website, read all the info and have bought your book. I am so sorry to hear of your loss and as a Doula I will be passing your website to my friends and other doulas.

Evenstar, thinking of you xx

Evenstar,

As others have said there is some time of up to 3 months in which to apply....you won't be able to do anything without a death certificate, so don't worry just yet (when you get the certificate, it is worth getting 3-4 copies for the officals in various places). You'll be given a pack of information. hopefully you have people to help you through applying for this. When I applied on behalf of my mum, everyone was incredibly helpful and considerate and it was dealt with very quickly.

HTH

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Thank you so much for your kind words, I am utterly overwhelmed by the response I have had here. I am fairly new to posting although I have "lurked" for a long time. Yorkiegirl thank you I have seen your threads, I will try and e-mail you soon. Thanks for all the advice everyone, I had found the basics from the directgov site but just wasn't sure whether it was best to go in person, when I am able/ready I will probably do that.