Have you accessed "bereavement benefits"?

taskermaria

I received Widowed Parents Allowance when my husband died. This would have been paid until my son was sixteen but when I remarried it stopped - getting remarried did not stop my son losing his father, if we had seperated my husband would have paid maintenance. The bereavement benefits system discriminates against children who lose a parent.

angiemorr

I lost my husband of a year at the age of 26 (13 yrs ago) due to a road accident. immediately following his death I was told as I was under 40 I was not entitled to widows benefit (I was too young) this information was not helpful and I was more than aware I was too young to be widowed but this was their answer. I was fortunate enough that due to mu husbands employment and union membership I was provided with a very good pension and death benefit, but this would take a month or so to process. It was however when my husbands union rep visited out of respect that he informed me I would be entitled to a one off bereavement payment, at this time it was £1000 which I believe has now increased. I then contacted the DWP and answered questions over the phone and payment was made around a week later. Why I was not informed of this this when I first spoke to them I'm not sure. I wonder if they hope people don't find out???

mumps

phoebeee wrote: »

I'm 23, and my partner was killed in an accident last August. We had lived together for 3 years but were not yet married. I'm stuck in a tenancy which with both of our incomes was manageable, but I'm now spending pretty much everything I earn on day to day living costs. I also contributed to funeral costs, so the savings I had are fast disappearing. I know these circumstances are fairly exceptional, but it seems wrong to me that there is nothing available to help if you are young and unmarried. I assume the expectation is that younger people will have other family members to support them - my parents are unable to help me much financially. I know money doesn't fix these problems but it would certainly help getting through the days.

It is very sad to lose someone so young but would you have been entitled to anything if you had been married? I know if you had children you would but at your age with no dependents I'm not sure what you would have qualified for.

McKneff

Mojisola wrote: »

If her pension is less than £151.20 a week, she can claim Pension Credit.

Does this not depend on other factors, Spouse income,household income, savings, etc etc.


I get nowhere near that figure and have been more or less laughed at.

McKneff

Bridget_From_Index wrote: »

My 25-year-old son, a full-time student living on an NHS bursary, had to pay for the funeral of his father, who died penniless. My son was he was told he wasn't entitled to any bereavement benefit because he was not already on any benefits. There wouldn't be many people in this position - but it does seem anomalous, and the cause of some hardship.

What made him think, at 25 years of age, he would be entitled to any sort of bereavement benefit.
He is an adult and presumably capable of working for a living, or claiming benefits in his own right, but never bereavement benefit ????

happychick1970

My husband died almost four years ago and we had two daughters aged 5 and 7. I didn't think I would qualify for the widowed parents allowance as we had separated four months previous to his death, but luckily I did as we were still married and it was based on his NI contributions, nothing else! I was able to get almost 100% of the claim which meant a one off payment of over £2000 to cover some initial costs and then just over £100 per week until they are 18 or I cohabit or remarry. I have no complaints about the service, the money came through quickly, but I was used to benefit forms as I had previously been his carer and had completed them on numerous occasions. The money is taxable and I look on it as the maintenance I would have received had he been alive. My only gripe with the system is that I will lose it completely should I cohabit, However, I feel I have been very lucky to have this extra money which was very welcome initially when the emotions for myself and my grieving daughters were at their highest - at least money wasn't an issue for me.

I believe the system could be changed, but I also believe that to some extent, and I am shooting myself in the foot here, that as it is a benefit which is not means tested, then maybe it should not be so generous. On the other hand as said before, I consider it to be my maintenance/pension.

Mojisola

McKneff wrote: »

Does this not depend on other factors, Spouse income,household income, savings, etc etc.

I get nowhere near that figure and have been more or less laughed at.

That's for a single person.

A couple have to have less than £230.85 coming in before they are entitled to PC.

Mojisola

Bridget_From_Index wrote: »

My 25-year-old son, a full-time student living on an NHS bursary, had to pay for the funeral of his father, who died penniless. My son was he was told he wasn't entitled to any bereavement benefit because he was not already on any benefits. There wouldn't be many people in this position - but it does seem anomalous, and the cause of some hardship.

McKneff wrote: »

What made him think, at 25 years of age, he would be entitled to any sort of bereavement benefit.
He is an adult and presumably capable of working for a living, or claiming benefits in his own right, but never bereavement benefit ????

Some people on the relevant benefits would have a higher weekly income then the OP's son.

It would make more sense if the benefit was payable based on income rather than specific benefits.

tessasmum

My husband died in 2014 after long illnesses, and I accessed a bereavement payment and then Widowed Parent Allowance. The big payment came through quite quickly, but I had to wait a couple of months for the WPA to be paid, although it was backdated when it did come through. At the time of his death, our daughters were 14 and 17, and I was entitled to the WPA in respect of our younger daughter, as the elder one was just about to turn 18 and leave home for uni. As others have said, this payment is based on the deceased's NI contributions, and it is a decent contribution to the household income, which really helps. The lump sum payment made a significant contribution to the cost of the funeral arrangements.

Carlotty

So..widowed aged 42, husband died unexpectedly aged 51. I had no children, so not eligible for WPA, under 46 so not eligible for help on that front and not able to claim the lump sum because my husband had not paid enough Nat Ins (because of his ill health) and I was not on benefits. Although I had life insurance, he did not because of his underlying medical problems. The funeral directors were kind enough to let me pay funeral off in instalments- and it was a totally no frills affair.


Incidentally I have found a lot of help through WAY- Widowed and young. A peer support charity for those widowed under 51.