Bereavement benefits (remedial) order 2023

Conference notes that following Parliament’s approval of the Bereavement Benefits (Remedial) Order 2023, the Government has extended the eligibility criteria for Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.

Conference is aware that previously this 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 supported, regardless of their parent’s legal relationship status.

Conference also notes that the Department for Work and Pensions has now opened a special 12 month application window for bereaved parents with dependent children whose partner died before 9 February 2023.

Alison Penny MBE, Director of the Childhood Bereavement Network states:

“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”.

Conference instructs the Executive Council to:

• use data from Accident Injury & Death Benefit Fund claims to identify affected Members
• write to those eligible to inform them of the change to eligibility criteria
• ensure that the above tasks are completed in a timely manner to allow affected Members (or their survivors) to apply before the closure of the 12 month application window in February 2024.