Theresa May’s government plans to introduce a cut in benefits for
widowed parents in April. It means people who lose a husband or wife will receive a higher sum after their partner’s death, rising from £2,000 to £3,500, but will get benefits for a shorter amount of time. They will no longer get monthly payments for up to 20 years, it will be limited to 18 months instead.
It’s a move that’s met resistance. Charities oppose removing support for parents and children, saying that it will leave 75% of people worse off in cash terms. There is also anger that the government is not extending the payment to parents who cohabited but were not married.
Conservative minister Richard Harrington caused further annoyance by suggesting the old system risked stopping people from “readjusting” to life as a single parent.
Share your experiences
We want to hear from our readers who will be affected by the new
bereaved support payment system. How will it affect you and your
family? Will it leave you struggling to pay bills? What did you think
of comments about “readjusting” to single parent life? What support to bereaved people need? Are you planning on protesting against this move? Do you think that payments should be extended to people who lived together but were not married?
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