Maternity Allowance:
(contributory, non means-tested)
Paid for 26 weeks to
some women who are either not in work or do not qualify for Statutory
Maternity Pay.
Statutory Maternity Pay:
(non-contributory, non means-tested)
Benefit paid for up to
26 weeks by employers to women not working because due to give birth, or
who have recently given birth. Minimum legal requirement - some
employers will offer more generous terms.
Statutory Paternity Pay:
(non-contributory, non-means tested)
Benefit paid for up to
2 weeks by employers to new fathers. Minimum legal requirement - some
employers will offer more generous terms.
Statutory Adoption Pay:
(non-contributory, non means-tested)
Benefit paid for up to
26 weeks
Retirement Pension:
(contributory, non means-tested)
Benefit payable to
women over 60 and men over 65. This will eventually become 65 for both.
Bereavement Allowance:
(based on partner’s contributions, non means-tested)
Paid to some widows and
widowers who don’t have dependant children. To qualify you must be over
the age of 45 but under pension age. The Bereavement Allowance will be
paid for up to 52 weeks after the death of the spouse, or until claimant
reaches pension age - whichever happens first. See also Bereavement
Payment below.
Widowed Parent’s Allowance:
(based on partner’s contributions (but see below), non means-tested)
A weekly amount payable
to a widow or widower under pension age who is responsible for a
dependant child. Contribution conditions are waived if their spouse died
of a industrial accident or disease after 11 April 1988.
In addition to the
above or Bereavement Allowance, widows and widowers may also be able to
claim a one-off:
Bereavement Payment:
(based on partner’s contributions, non means-tested)
One off lump sum
payment of
£2000
for widows or widowers under pension age. The claim must be made within
three months of the death. People who do not qualify may be able to get
help with the cost of a basic funeral from the Social Fund - but a harsh
means test applies.
