Thousands more parents will be able to access cash from the government after a change to benefits, according to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). A minister is urging single parents who have lost a partner to check whether they might be owed thousands of pounds.
The eligibility criteria for two benefits designed to support grieving parents after the loss of a partner - Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance - have been extended this week. Previously, only bereaved parents who had been married or in a civil partnership were entitled to the cash. But from today, co-habiting parents can access the support, regardless of their legal relationship status.
Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression Mims Davies MP urged anyone who thinks they may now be eligible for the benefit to come forward. She said: "We have made this important change to help thousands more grieving parents access the financial support they need and deserve. We know so many lone parents are doing their best to support their families through such a difficult time and our bereavement benefits offer a lifeline to help them adjust to the impact of this."
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She added: "I would urge anyone who thinks they may be eligible to make an application, as crucially, some bereaved parents will also be able to receive backdated payments to ensure they don’t miss out."
Bereavement Support Payment is not means-tested, which means what you earn or how much you have in savings does not affect how much you get. Usually, it is usually paid as a one-off payment followed by up to 18 monthly payments.
Following the eligibility change, the DWP has opened a 12-month application window for bereaved parents who have dependent children and whose partner died before February 9 2023. The bereavement benefit and amount they are entitled to will depend on when they lost their partner.
To qualify, claimants must have met the eligibility criteria for either Bereavement Support Payment or Widowed Parent’s Allowance on or after August 30 2018.
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Those whose partner died 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. 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.
Claims for Bereavement Support Payment can be made online via gov.uk, over the phone or through a paper application form, while claims for Widowed Parent’s Allowance need to be made through a paper form, which can be downloaded from gov.uk or requested over the phone.
DWP Minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said: "Losing a partner is tragic and this change will mean more bereaved parents can access this support through a profoundly difficult time for them and their children. It has been our priority to get this legislation right, so it is fairer to bereaved children with parents who were not married or in a civil partnership, and I am very pleased this is now confirmed in law."
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."
Who is eligible for Bereavement Support Payment?
When your partner died you must have been one of the following:
- married or in a registered civil partnership
- living together as though you were married
When your partner died, you must have also been:
- under State Pension age
- living in the UK or a country that pays bereavement benefits
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Your partner must have either:
- paid National Insurance contributions for at least 25 weeks in one tax year since 6 April 1975
- died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work
You can find the full eligibility criteria on the government website here.
How much can you get?
If you were married or in a registered civil partnership with the person who died:
If you were getting Child Benefit when your partner died (or did not get it but were entitled to it), you’ll get the higher rate.
This is made up of:
- a first payment of £3,500
- up to 18 monthly payments of £350
If you were not entitled to Child Benefit, you’ll get the lower rate unless you were pregnant when your partner died.
This is made up of:
- a first payment of £2,500
- up to 18 monthly payments of £100
You must claim within 12 months of your partner’s death to get the first payment. If you claim after this time, you will only get monthly payments.
If you were living together as though you were married with the person who died:
You’ll get a first payment of £3,500 and then up to 18 monthly payments of £350.
You may get fewer payments if:
- your partner died after 9 February 2023 and you claim more than 3 months after your partner’s death
- your partner died before 30 August 2018
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