A little-known benefit paid out £3,500 when my partner died – it’s not means tested and takes minutes to apply

WHEN Isabella Day’s partner Ford unexpectedly died in August, she was forced to navigate running a small business and a household budget alone while grieving.

The 51-year-old goldsmith, from Devon, had worked with Ford Hallam selling hand-made gold jewellery at a store in Dartmouth and through website isabelladay.co.uk for years.

Ford was also a skilled craftsman and could restore items such as swords, and he was...