Backdated Widows Allowance

michelefauk

I read last night that they have changed the rules regarding unmarried partners being able to claim the above. My partner died in 2016 leaving behind myself and our 11 year old daughter. I was unable to claim the Widows/bereavement benefits as we werent married, only co-habiting. I have always worked and received Tax Credits since my partner passed. I understand that I can now submit a claim which can be backdated until August 2018. My worry is that because I have received Tax Credits during this time, that will be taken out of any potential Widows benefits I may be entitled to. Does anyone have any idea how this may work? I have looked at the form which asks if you have received UC etc but no mention of Tax Credits. Any ideas most welcome before I go any further. 

sammyjammy

Bereavement allowance is a taxable benefit so any tax credits you received during this time will be impacted.  They will recalculate your tax credits taking into account any bereavement allowance you receive and if there is an overpayment you will need to repay it.

michelefauk

Thanks, I am not sure if its worth applying for it or not! I only receive a small amount of tax credits but in the past when I was on a lower salary I received more. 

calcotti

Presumably what is actually being looked at here is Widow's Parent Allowance.

Bearing in mind that, in theory, Tax Credits will end by the end of 2024 whereas the WPA would continue until the child is no longer eligible for Child Benefit I could be a good reason to claim it. That assumes the reference to 11 year old daughter refers to age now rather than in 2017, if the latter then she will be coming off CB soon anyway. 

Would also want to consider whether or not there will be any UC entitlement when TC ends and if so how much the UC would compare to WPA.

michelefauk

Thank you, my daughter is 18 now and off to uni in September so all my benefits will stop then anyway. 

sheramber

If you were not married and  your partner died in 2016 you are not eligible for the backdated payment

If you were living together as though you were married with the person who died

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner died on or after 6 April 2017.

You must have been:

• under State Pension age when your partner died
• under State Pension age on 30 August 2018

When your partner died, you must have been either:

• getting or entitled to Child Benefit
• pregnant
  
  
• https://www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment/eligibility
  

calcotti

sheramber said:

If you were not married and  your partner died in 2016 you are not eligible

I don’t think that is correct. 

The information you have quoted is for BSP which is correct but not relevant. This thread is about WPA. The recent regulation means that some living as if married with a partner with a child receiving CB and the partner died before April 2017. The window for making a claim is until 9th February 2024.
https://www.gov.uk/widowed-parents-allowance

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bereavement-benefits-extended-to-unmarried-cohabiting-parents

calcotti

michelefauk said:

Thank you, my daughter is 18 now and off to uni in September so all my benefits will stop then anyway. 

In which case it may not be worth the effort (although you may get something). I don’t how to work out what you might get.

michelefauk

Thanks, I’ll apply anyway, even if it’s a hundred quid, it can go in my daughters uni fund 

calcotti

michelefauk said:

Thanks, I’ll apply anyway, even if it’s a hundred quid, it can go in my daughters uni fund 

You’ve time in which to make the claim. You could see if a local advice agency can work out how much you might get to check that it is sensible to apply.

michelefauk

Do you mean such as CAB?