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Written by Adam McIlroy.
14 minute read
Article reviewed by Judy Carole, Published Author on June 3, 2025.
Bereavement support is the range of emotional, practical and financial help available to people coping with the death of someone close to them. In the UK, it can include free counselling, helplines, peer support groups, online communities, NHS support, workplace bereavement leave and government benefits such as the Bereavement Support Payment.
Losing someone can affect every part of life, and it is not always easy to know how to deal with grief or where to turn for support. Alongside the emotional impact of bereavement, many people also find themselves needing to make practical decisions about the funeral, paperwork and finances during an already difficult time.
This guide explains the types of bereavement support available, who they are for, how to access them and what to expect, from the first days after a loss to the longer journey of grief.
Key takeaways:
Bereavement support is any form of help, emotional, practical, financial or social, offered to someone who is grieving the death of a person close to them. It can come from counsellors, charities, the NHS, employers, the government, friends, family or peer support groups.
Bereavement is the experience of losing someone. Grief is the emotional, physical and psychological response to that loss. Support can help with both: emotional care for grief and practical guidance during the bereavement period, whether you are trying to cope with the death of a parent, partner, friend or another loved one.
There is no single “right” kind of support. Some people need a private space to speak to a counsellor. Others find comfort in a support group, faith community or online forum. Some people need financial help, time away from work or guidance with forms, funeral arrangements and even a funeral checklist to help them stay organised during the early stages of grief.
Bereavement is the state of having lost someone close. Grief is the emotional, physical and psychological response to that loss. Mourning is the outward expression of grief through funerals, rituals, conversation or shared remembrance.
Bereavement support can help with all three. It can give people space to process grief, practical help during the bereavement period and support with mourning in a way that feels meaningful.
Bereavement support in the UK falls into several broad categories. Most people use more than one type at different points in their grief.
Bereavement counselling offers one-to-one support with a trained counsellor. It can take place in person, online or by phone, and may be available through charities, hospices, the NHS or private therapists.
Counselling can be especially helpful if grief feels overwhelming, complicated or difficult to talk about with family and friends.
Support groups bring bereaved people together to share experiences and feel less alone. Some are general grief groups, while others focus on specific experiences, such as the death of a partner, parent, child, sibling or friend.
Groups may be led by trained volunteers, counsellors or charities. Many are available both locally and online.
Some people also find informal spaces such as a death cafe helpful, where people can talk openly about grief, mortality and bereavement in a supportive environment.
Helplines can be helpful when grief feels too heavy to manage alone. The following organisations offer emotional and practical bereavement support:
Online bereavement support can include forums, live chat, video groups and digital communities. This can be helpful for people who cannot attend in-person sessions, feel isolated or would prefer more anonymity.
Online support may be especially useful after a sudden death, suicide bereavement, baby loss or when someone is grieving far away from family and friends.
Some people may be eligible for government support after a bereavement, particularly if they are worried about funeral expenses or wondering how to pay for a funeral. This support can come in the form of the Bereavement Support Payment or Funeral Expenses Payment.
Bereavement in the workplace can affect concentration, confidence and emotional wellbeing, especially in the early days after a loss.
Some employers offer compassionate leave, Employee Assistance Programmes or counselling after a bereavement. Parents may also be entitled to Parental Bereavement Leave if their child has died or there has been a stillbirth after 24 weeks.
For other losses, entitlement often depends on the employer’s policy, so it is worth checking with HR or reading your contract.
Faith groups, community organisations and local charities can offer comfort, practical help and a sense of belonging. For some people, cultural or spiritual traditions are an important part of mourning.
Grief is not a mental illness, and many people do not need professional help. But support can be useful if grief feels unbearable, isolating or difficult to manage day to day.
You may benefit from bereavement support if you are struggling to sleep, withdrawing from others, finding it hard to work or care for yourself, using alcohol or substances to cope or feeling hopeless.
There is no minimum level of “bad enough” before you can ask for help. A single phone call, online chat or counselling session can make a difference.
While grief is universal, the support that helps can depend on the relationship, the circumstances of the death and the person’s age.
Children often grieve differently from adults. They may move in and out of sadness, ask repeated questions or express grief through behaviour rather than words.
Specialist support is available through organisations such as Winston’s Wish, Child Bereavement UK and Hope Again, Cruse’s youth service.
The death of a partner can bring emotional grief alongside practical changes to finances, household responsibilities and identity. WAY supports people widowed under 50, while AtaLoss can help people find relevant local and national services.
The death of a child is one of the most painful losses a person can face. Specialist organisations include The Compassionate Friends, Sands and Child Bereavement UK.
Older people may face bereavement alongside loneliness, health changes or the loss of a long-term partner. Age UK, Silver Line and local community groups can offer emotional and practical support.
Some grief is overlooked because the relationship is not always recognised by others. Losing a sibling, friend, colleague or former partner can be deeply painful. This is sometimes called disenfranchised grief.
The Bereavement Support Payment is a UK government benefit for people whose spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died. It is not means-tested, and eligibility depends on age, relationship status, where you live and the National Insurance contributions of the person who died.
You may be able to claim if, when your partner died, you were under State Pension age, living in the UK or an eligible country and were married, in a civil partnership or living together as if married. The person who died must usually have paid enough National Insurance contributions or have died because of an accident at work or work-related illness.
If you are eligible for the higher rate, the most you can get is a £3,500 one-off payment and 18 monthly payments of £350. If you receive the lower rate, the most you can get is a £2,500 one-off payment and 18 monthly payments of £100.
You can apply online, by phone or by post. You will need your National Insurance number, your bank or building society details, the date your partner died and your partner’s National Insurance number.
You usually need to claim within three months of your partner’s death to receive the full amount. Claims can usually be made up to 21 months after the death, but payments may be reduced.
People over State Pension age cannot claim the Bereavement Support Payment. They may be eligible for other support, such as Pension Credit, changes to State Pension entitlement or help with funeral costs.
The Funeral Expenses Payment may help people on certain benefits with funeral costs. In Scotland, eligible people may be able to apply for the Funeral Support Payment through Social Security Scotland.
Most bereavement support in the UK is free and can be accessed without a referral. The hardest part is often knowing where to start.
You can contact charities such as Cruse, Sue Ryder, Marie Curie or Samaritans directly. You can also speak to your GP, who may refer you to NHS talking therapies or local bereavement services.
Signposting organisations such as AtaLoss and The Good Grief Trust can help you find support by location or type of loss. If the person who died received hospice or palliative care, the hospice may also offer ongoing bereavement support for family members.
For most people, grief gradually changes over time. It does not disappear, but it often becomes easier to carry. For some people, grief remains intense, intrusive and disabling long after the death. This is sometimes called complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder.
Signs may include intense yearning, difficulty accepting the death, feeling that life is meaningless or being unable to manage daily life many months after the loss. This can be more likely after sudden, traumatic or very close losses.
Complicated grief is recognised and treatable. If you are worried about yourself or someone else, speak to a GP, Cruse counsellor or registered therapist.
The most helpful thing you can do for someone who is grieving is often the simplest: turn up, listen and do not try to fix it.
Use the name of the person who died unless the bereaved person asks you not to. Offer specific help, such as bringing dinner, helping with paperwork or checking in on a difficult date. Avoid phrases like “you should be feeling better by now”. Grief does not follow a timetable.
Support often fades after the funeral, so keep showing up in the months and years that follow.
Bereavement can sometimes trigger a mental health crisis or worsen existing depression, anxiety, or trauma. Immediate help is available.
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of harm, call 999 or go to A&E.
Samaritans: 116 123, free, 24/7.
SHOUT: text SHOUT to 85258, free, 24/7.
Cruse Bereavement Support: 0808 808 1677.
For non-emergency support: speak to your GP.
When someone has died, it can be difficult to know what to do first. We hope this guide has helped you understand the support available, whether you need emotional help, practical guidance or financial information.
If you need help arranging a funeral, Aura’s team is here to guide you with care and clarity. We can help with the practical steps, answer your questions and support you at a pace that feels right for you.
Some people also find comfort in planning ahead for the future. Whether you are arranging a funeral now or considering a funeral plan for yourself later in life, our team is always here to help you understand your options.
Bereavement support is emotional, practical, social or financial help for someone who is grieving after a death. It can include counselling, helplines, support groups, online communities, workplace support and government benefits.
Yes, many bereavement support services in the UK are free. Charities, hospices, the NHS, Samaritans, Cruse, Sue Ryder and Marie Curie all offer free forms of support.
Bereavement is the experience of losing someone. Grief is the emotional response to that loss. Mourning is how grief is expressed outwardly through rituals, funerals, conversation or remembrance.
It depends on the service and the person’s needs. Counselling may last for several sessions, while helplines, online communities and peer support groups may be available for much longer.
You can seek support at any point. It may be especially helpful if grief is affecting your sleep, work, relationships, daily life or mental health.
Yes. Online support may include forums, live chat, video groups and digital communities. These can be helpful if you feel isolated or cannot access in-person support.
The Bereavement Support Payment is a UK government benefit for some people whose spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died. It includes a one-off payment and monthly payments for up to 18 months.
You can apply online through GOV.UK, by phone on 0800 151 2012, or by post. You will need details including National Insurance numbers, bank details and the date your partner died.
No. The Bereavement Support Payment is only available to people under State Pension age when their partner died.
Yes. Bereavement counselling, helplines and GP support can help with grief-related depression, anxiety or trauma. If you are worried about your mental health, speak to your GP.
Complicated grief, also called prolonged grief disorder, is when grief remains intense and disabling long after a death. It is treatable, and specialist support is available.
Parents may be entitled to Parental Bereavement Leave after the death of a child or stillbirth after 24 weeks. For other bereavements, leave usually depends on the employer’s policy.