A change in the law means that thousands of grieving parents and carers will now be entitled to more support. Bereavement benefits have been extended to cohabiting parents meaning that those with dependent children who need support following the death of their partner can apply for benefits.
Campaigning groups have been calling for a change in the law for years. From Thursday, February 9, the government has extended the eligibility criteria for Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance, helping thousands more grieving parents and carers to access this support.
The benefits are designed to help parents with the financial impact of losing a partner. Previously it was only available to eligible bereaved parents who were married or in a civil partnership.
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The law change will ensure more children in bereaved families are equally supported, regardless of their parent’s legal relationship status. According to a report in Liverpool Echo, The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has opened a special 12-month application window for bereaved parents with dependent children whose partner died before 9 February 2023. The bereavement benefit and amount they are entitled to will depend on when they lost their partner.
Alison Penny MBE, director of the Childhood Bereavement Network, said: "We are relieved that at last, cohabiting families who have suffered the devastating loss of their mum or dad will now have the same access to bereavement benefits as married and civil partnered families. These benefits are a lifeline for grieving families, helping parents and carers put their children’s needs first as they begin to adjust to a life that has changed forever.
"Our charity estimates that thousands of families, some bereaved as far back as 2001, may be in line for a retrospective payment of the benefits they have missed out on, paid from August 2018.
"The 12-month window for claiming a retrospective payment will help Government and support organisations to raise awareness and give families time to understand the effect that a back payment could have on their wider tax and social security entitlements."
Bereavement charity Way, Widowed and Young welcomed the news. Georgia Elms, WAY’s Campaign Ambassador, said: "I have always believed the benefit system is a safety net for those who fall on hard times. They are supposed to be scooped up and supported by the Government.
"The change in April 2017 from Widowed Parent’s Allowance to the less generous Bereavement Support Payment (payable only for 18 months) was cruel and a money saving exercise. I’ve never campaigned before but it’s made me appreciate the welfare state a lot more.
"When something really horrendous happens in your life (like being widowed), that’s what the welfare state was set up to do and it should step in to support people. But over the past 12 years, the system has really been letting thousands of bereaved families down."
Who is eligible for the payments?
To qualify, claimants must have met the eligibility criteria for either Bereavement Support Payment or Widowed Parent’s Allowance on or after August 20, 2018. This means those who lost their partner before April 6, 2017, might be able to receive the legacy benefit Widowed Parent’s Allowance, should they be found to have been eligible for this on August 30, 2018.
Similarly, a surviving parent who lost their partner on or after April 6, 2017, may be eligible for its replacement, Bereavement Support Payment, should they have been qualified for this on August 30, 2018.
How to make a claim
Claims for Bereavement Support Payment can be made online via gov.uk, over the phone or through a paper application form. Claims for Widowed Parent’s Allowance will be processed by paper. Paper applications can be downloaded from gov.uk or requested over the Bereavement Service helpline.
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