Part IClaims for and Payments and General Administration of Benefit
F1Bereavement benefits
3Late claims for bereavement benefit where death is difficult to establish
1
This section applies where a person's spouse F2or civil partner has died or may be presumed to have died on or after the appointed day and the circumstances are such that—
a
more than 12 months have elapsed since the date of death; and
b
either
i
ii
less than 12 months have elapsed since the surviving spouse F2or civil partner first knew of the discovery and identification of the body.
2
Where this section applies, notwithstanding that any time prescribed for making a claim for a bereavement benefit in respect of the death has elapsed, then—
a
in any case falling within paragraph (b) (i) of subsection (1) above where it has been decided under section 8 of the Social Security Act 1998 that the spouse F2or civil partner has died or is presumed to have died; or
b
in any case falling within paragraph (b) (ii) of subsection (1) above where the identification was made not more than 12 months before the surviving spouse F2or civil partner first knew of the discovery and identification of the body,
such a claim may be made or treated as made at any time before the expiration of the period of 12 months beginning with the date on which that decision was made or, as the case may be, the date on which the surviving spouse F2or civil partner first knew of the discovery and identification.
F43
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
In subsection (1) above “the appointed day” means the day appointed for the coming into force of sections 54 to 56 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999.
F55
In subsection (2) “bereavement benefit” means—
a
bereavement support payment, or
b
widowed parent's allowance.
S. 3 and cross-heading substituted (24.4.2000 for specified purposes, 9.4.2001 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 (c. 30), s. 89(1), Sch. 8 para. 17; S.I. 2000/1047, art. 2(2)(a), Sch. Pt. I