Widowed Parent's AllowanceWho can get Widowed Parent's Allowance?A man or a woman can get Widowed Parent's Allowance if their late spouse or civil partner met the National Insurance contribution conditions and:
- he or she has a child for whom they are entitled to, or can be treated as entitled to, Child Benefit; or
- where a widow or a surviving civil partner is expecting a child:
- by her late husband; or
- by her late civil partner; or
- as a result of certain cases of artificial insemination.
A person cannot get Widowed Parent's Allowance:
- if the couple were divorced; or
- if the couple's civil partnership was dissolved; or
- while living with a person of the opposite sex as husband, wife or civil partner; or
- while in prison or held in legal custody; or
- if over state pension age (60 for a woman, 65 for a man).
Widowed Parent's Allowance is made up of:
- a basic allowance; and
- an allowance for each child; and
- a variable earnings-related additional state pension which is based on the late spouse's contribution record.
Rates of Widowed Parent's AllowanceEffective from 7 April 2008
| Weekly Amount |
Criteria |
| £90.70 |
Basic allowance |
| £ 8.75 |
Increase for eldest/only dependent child |
| £11.35 |
For subsequent dependent children |
Effect of capital and other incomeWidowed Parent's Allowance is payable regardless of capital and whether the customer does any work.
These benefits are reduced by the amount of Widowed Parent's Allowance:
Widowed Parent's Allowance is taken into account in assessing the following:
These benefits do not affect the payment of Widowed Parent's Allowance:
Child Benefit (Lone Parent) cannot be paid where an increase for a child is payable with Widowed Parent's Allowance. Child Benefit will be paid at the ordinary rate for the eldest child instead.
If a customer does not understand or disagrees with a decision, they can ask for an explanation and / or for the decision to be looked at again. They also have the right of appeal.
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