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Bereavement Support in the UK: Where to Find Help
Amid all the practical tasks that follow a death, it's easy to forget the most important thing — that you are grieving, and that support is available whenever you need it. This guide covers where to find emotional support, what to expect if a coroner is involved, and the financial help you may be entitled to. There's no right or wrong way to grieve, and no timetable you have to follow.
Where can I find emotional support after a bereavement?
Support comes in many forms, and different things help different people. Your GP is a good first point of contact and can refer you to counselling or local services. Several national charities offer free, confidential bereavement support, including Cruse Bereavement Support, Marie Curie, Sue Ryder, and At A Loss, which helps you find services near you. Many hospices also offer bereavement support to families, not only those who's relative was in their care.
There are also specialist services for particular situations — support for bereaved children and young people, for the loss of a partner at a young age, for losing a child, and for sudden or traumatic deaths. If you're struggling, reaching out to one of these services is a sign of strength, not weakness. You don't have to wait until things feel unbearable.
If at any point you feel unable to cope or have thoughts of harming yourself, please contact your GP, call 111, or call the Samaritans free on 116 123, at any time of day or night.
What does a coroner do?
A coroner is an independent official who investigates deaths that are sudden, unexpected, unexplained, or that happen in particular circumstances — for example, during an operation, or where the cause isn't clear. A death being referred to a coroner is a routine part of the system and does not mean anyone did anything wrong.
The coroner may order a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death. In many cases, once the cause is clear, the coroner confirms it and the death can be registered as normal. The coroner's office will keep you informed and will provide the paperwork needed for the funeral, so you don't always have to wait for the whole process to finish before saying goodbye.
What happens at an inquest?
If the cause of death remains unclear, or the death was unnatural or happened in certain settings, the coroner may hold an inquest — a formal inquiry to establish who died, and how, when, and where they died. An inquest is not a trial; it doesn't find anyone at fault or assign blame. Its purpose is simply to establish the facts.
You may be asked to attend, particularly if you're a close family member, and you're entitled to ask questions. Inquests can take time to be scheduled, sometimes several months, and the death is usually formally registered by the coroner once the inquest concludes. The Coroners' Courts Support Service offers free, independent help to families going through this, including someone to attend the inquest with you.
What financial help is available after a death?
Several forms of financial support exist, depending on your circumstances.
Bereavement Support Payment
If your husband, wife, or civil partner has died — or, in some cases, a cohabiting partner with whom you have children — you may be entitled to Bereavement Support Payment from the government. The higher rate (for those with dependent children) is a £3,500 lump sum followed by up to 18 monthly payments of £350.
The standard rate is a £2,500 lump sum followed by up to 18 payments of £100. It's tax-free and not means-tested, so your income and savings don't affect eligibility. To receive the full amount, claim within three months of the death; you can claim up to 21 months after, but you'll receive less.
Funeral Expenses Payment
If you receive certain benefits, you may be able to claim help towards funeral costs. See our funeral guide for more.
Other support
You may also need to sort out the deceased's own benefits and pensions, check whether you're now entitled to different support, and deal with their tax affairs. The Tell Us Once service helps notify the relevant departments.
What to do next
If the death was sudden or is with the coroner, our guide to registering a death explains how that affects timing. For help with funeral costs, see our funeral guide.
Looking after yourself matters as much as the practical tasks. When you’re ready for those, our guide to everything you need to do after a death lays them out clearly and calmly.
You don't have to go through this alone
Grief is not a problem to be solved, and it doesn't follow a schedule. Whatever you're feeling is valid, and support is there for you whenever you're ready to reach for it. First48hrs can give you a personalised plan for the practical side, so you have a little more space to look after yourself. It's free.
This guide was last updated in July 2026. Processes and figures are set by government and can change — for the latest official guidance, see GOV.UK. First48hrs provides information and signposting, not legal or financial advice.
If you're struggling to cope, you don't have to manage alone — your GP, NHS 111, and the Samaritans (116 123, free, day or night) are there to help.
Bereavement Support & The Coroner - FAQ's
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