Support, advice and benefits after a death

Contact your nearest Job Centre Plus for up to date information on claiming benefits and other matters.

Social fund funeral payment

The death may also affect your entitlement to other benefits such as:

• Guardian’s Allowance

• Income Support

• Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Pension Credit

• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

• Tax Credits

• Housing Benefit

• Council Tax Benefit

Child benefit

Child benefit is paid to people who are bringing up children. If a parent or guardian has died and you are now bringing up their child(ren), you may be able to claim child benefit.

If a child has died, HM Revenue and Customs should be told within eight weeks. Email child.benefit@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk or call 0845 302 1444 for further details.

Council tax

Find out what you need to do about council tax when someone dies.

Lewisham bereavement counselling service

This counselling service is free if you are on a low income or over 60. If you're in full-time work you'll need to make a small contribution.

The bereavement counsellors can visit you at home or meet you in doctors' surgeries in the borough.

Call 020 8692 6252 (Tuesday to Thursday 10am–6pm) to arrange a meeting throughout the week and weekend.

Other organisations

• Cruse Bereavement Care - Cruse has 180 branches and nearly 7,000 volunteers; they provide a nationwide service of emotional support, counselling and information to anyone bereaved by death
• London Friend - support and advice to lesbians and gay men bereaved by the death of a same-sex life partner
• Macmillan Cancer Support - provides information, practical advice and emotional support to patients, their families and friends, including those bereaved by the illness
• Miscarriage Association - support and information on all aspects of pregnancy loss: tel: 01924 200799
• Probate Helpline - advice on probate and inheritance tax matters
• RoadPeace - the national charity for road traffic victims; trained volunteers give practical and emotional support, information on legal procedures and other help organisations
• The Samaritans - for someone you can talk to who will give you support; there are more than 180 branches which are open 24 hours a day
• SSAFA Forces Help - the national charity helping serving and ex-service men, women and their families in need: tel: 020 7403 8783
• Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society - support for bereaved parents and families when a baby dies at or soon after birth, with a national telephone helpline, a network of self-help groups run by and for bereaved parents, and information for the bereaved and health professionals: helpline: 020 7436 5881 (10am-5pm Mon–Fri)
• St. Christopher's bereavement support - free telephone, in-person, group, one-to-one support for Lewisham residents and children
• Support After Murder and Manslaughter - understanding and support to families who have been bereaved as a result of murder and manslaughter: tel: 020 7735 3838
• Terrence Higgins Trust - a charity providing practical support, help, counselling and advice for anyone with or concerned about AIDS or HIV infection
• The Lullaby Trust - giving advice on how to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and supporting families who experience the sudden loss of a toddler or baby
• War Widows Association of Great Britain - advice, help and support to all war widows and dependants
• WAY Foundation - a self-help social and support network for men and women widowed up to the age of 50 and their children; their main aim is to help those widowed at a young age to rebuild their lives by helping one another; tel: 0870 0113450