Premature Bereavement

hijimhere

I can see that the replies are showing genuine disbelief that the Bereavement Payments are the same as they always have been. Trust me they are not. If you become one of the 30/40 thousand people who loose their life partner under the age of 50 (I genuinely hope you won't) you will experience feelings physical and emotional to a depth you did not know you could. Then after that you will appreciate the kick in the teeth your government has handed out to you. Yes 12 months get over it - My wife died aged 46 suddenly- to WORK around my kids (and not live on benefits) I took a job with a huge salary drop. WPA was an absolute godsend enabling me to take a low wage job and look after my kids. I find it a dam shame that so many here are kidding themselves. Trust me my wife died in 2002 I have never got over it but I do live with it and I always will no matter what. Good luck I hope you are not one who will suffer a premature bereavement - but if you do - you will find out things like not being able to function, read a paper or concentrate. Making a will to make sure your kids will NOT be forced into the care system to give them a guardian. It takes about 2 years before that light can be seen and another 2/3 years to reach it. However, until you become bereaved you have no idea what is waiting for you.

atush

I personally NEVER thought that if you werent married you'd get any payments at all.

I am incredulous that you and others thought you would.

Read the famous Case of Stiegg Larsson and his partner.

mgdavid

I have never heard of state Bereavement Payments and would never have imagined they existed if not for this thread. We are now retired but through our entire working lives we used life insurance as a financial mitigation against an early death.