Bereavement benefits extended to unmarried cohabiting parents

Cohabiting parents with dependent children who need support following the death of their partner can now apply for bereavement benefits following the extension of the eligibility criteria for Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.

by | 8 Feb, 2023

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.

The law change will ensure more children in bereaved families are equally supported, regardless of their parent’s legal relationship status.

Department of Work and Pensions Minister, Viscount Younger of Leckie, said this change will mean more bereaved parents can access this support through a profoundly difficult time for them and their children.

Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP, said she urges 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.

The 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.

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.

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.

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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