If your spouse or partner died on or after 1 November 2017, you must inform us within 6 months of their death.
To make a claim, you need to download and complete an application form (PDF: 155KB).
Alternatively, we can post an application form to you. To request this, contact us.
We'll ask you to confirm:
- your identity
- you were the beneficiary’s spouse or partner
- you were living with them at the time of their death
- that the infection contributed to the death
To do this you will need:
- proof of ID (for example, a copy of your passport, driving licence or birth certificate)
- proof of your current address (for example, a copy of your bank statement or utility bill)
- death certificate of your late spouse/partner (photocopies are acceptable)
- evidence to show that you were co-habiting at the time of your spouse/partner's death if this is not stated on the death certificate (for example, a joint bank statement or joint council tax bill), or if not available a completed Referee Form (Appendix 1 of the application form)
- a letter from a registered medical professional confirming that on the balance of probability, infection with hepatitis C or HIV contributed to the death of your spouse/partner, if the death certificate does not confirm this.
Doctor's evidence
You'll need to provide evidence that the hepatitis stage 1 or stage 2 and/or HIV, or treatment for it, contributed to death of your spouse or partner.
This should be from the hepatitis C or HIV specialist who treated them. This may not be possible if the death was some time ago.
In this case, you can nominate another hepatologist/infectious diseases consultant. This is only if they have access to your spouse or partner’s records. You can also nominate your spouse or partner’s GP.
We'll then contact the nominated doctor. We ask them to explain why they believe that hepatitis C or HIV contributed to the spouse or partner’s death. We may consult another hepatitis C or HIV specialist and clinical records to verify.
If your spouse or partner lived outside England when they died, we may contact their clinical specialist in that country about the cause of death.