The 1975 : BSP : Help!

Hi Guys and gals
scratching my head here
client paid NI from 1965 to 1972, when he had an accident and was unable to work
DWP refusing bereavement support, as he paid no NI after 1975
cant find any reference to 1975 being relevant
any ideas??
ta muchly

It says 6th April 1975 on the DWP website but can’t find it elsewhere https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/eligibility

If he was working and paying NI in 1965 then presumably he is over pension age and won’t qualify for BSP anyway? Do you mean his spouse/CP paid the NI contributions then?

Pre-1975, NI contributions were a flat rate system, employers used to record them as a stamp stuck on to cards (hence the term paying your stamp). From April 1975, they became earnings related and the modern system of NI began.

BSP is only payable if the deceased paid Class 1 or Class 2 NI contributions, which (as I understand it) they would not have been able to do pre-1975.