After a decade long campaign by the child and youth bereavement sector, cohabiting parents with dependent children are now eligible to receive financial support after the death of a partner.
From 9 February 2023 cohabiting parents will be able to make a claim for Bereavement Support Payment if they meet the other eligibility criteria.
Around 21,000 families will also be able to make retrospective claims. Because the eligibility criteria were found to be unlawful on 30 August 2018, the Government will also make retrospective payments back to that point to those who had missed out because they were not married or in a civil partnership. Some of these families will have been bereaved as long ago as 2001.
How can I make a claim?
Visit https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment for details of the eligibility criteria and how to claim.
How to make a retrospective claim
You will have 12 months (until 8 February 2024) to put in a retrospective claim and get the full amount you are entitled to. It is important that you understand how a retrospective payment might affect previous and future tax, tax credits and benefits before you put in a claim. Contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus for guidance https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/search.php
Do I quality for bereavement support?
- To qualify, claimants must have met the eligibility criteria for either Bereavement Support Payment or Widowed Parent’s Allowance on or after 30 August 2018.
- This means those who lost their partner before 6 April 2017 might be able to receive the legacy benefit Widowed Parent’s Allowance, should they be found to have been eligible for this on 30 August 2018.
- Similarly, a surviving parent who lost their partner on or after 6 April 2017 may be eligible for its replacement, Bereavement Support Payment, should they have been qualified for this on 30 August 2018.
- Claims for Bereavement Support Payment can be made:
- online via https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment,
- by paper application form – download here or call the gov.uk Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 151 2012 or Welsh language 0800 731 0453 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm)
- 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.
- Contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus for more details https://find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk/search.php
Please note that Winston’s Wish is not a financial advisory service and is not able to give individual advice. You can find an adviser here.
