Bereaved mother and father are being reminded by the Government to verify whether or not they could possibly be eligible for backdated funds.
In February the Government prolonged eligibility for bereavement help cost and widowed guardian’s allowance to cohabiting mother and father with dependent kids – advantages that are designed to assist with the monetary affect of shedding a associate.
Previously these advantages had been solely out there to eligible bereaved mother and father who had been married or in a civil partnership.
Those whose associate died between April 9 2001 and February 8 2023 might be able to obtain backdated funds.
When the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) prolonged eligibility in February, it opened a 12-month window for cohabiting mother and father to backdate their claims.
This means mother and father whose associate died earlier than February 9 2023 have till February 8 2024 to say.
After this it won’t be attainable to say widowed guardian’s allowance and oldsters won’t get their full entitlement to a backdated cost of bereavement help cost.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) minister Viscount Younger of Leckie stated: “This is an important law change which extends support to many more bereaved families with children, regardless of whether parents were married or in a civil partnership.
“I would urge any parents eligible for backdated money to put in their claim now so they can benefit from this financial support as soon as possible.”
The profit a guardian is eligible for will rely on the date their associate died.
If their associate died earlier than April 6 2017, they would want to say widowed guardian’s allowance.
We encourage anybody who thinks they is perhaps eligible to look into this
Alison Penny, Childhood Bereavement Network
If their associate died on or after April 6 2017, they would want to say bereavement help cost, which has changed widowed guardian’s allowance.
The earliest level to which funds will be backdated is August 30 2018, even when somebody’s associate died earlier than this date.
To qualify for these bereavement advantages, mother and father have to be below the state pension age, have paid a specific amount of nationwide insurance coverage contributions and be both pregnant or having a dependent youngster on the day their associate died.
Alison Penny, director of the Childhood Bereavement Network, stated: “It has been very moving to hear stories from parents who have received a backdated payment after years of being unable to access this lifeline benefit for them and their children.
“We think there are many others out there who could be in line for a payment.
“We encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible to look into this, and seek specialist welfare benefits advice if they are in any doubt about the effects that a back payment could have on their wider tax and social security entitlements.”
Those residing in England, Scotland and Wales ought to apply to the UK Government.
More particulars on eligibility for bereavement help cost will be discovered at www.gov.uk/bereavement-support-payment. Parents can declare bereavement help cost on-line through gov.uk, over the telephone or via a paper utility type.
More particulars on eligibility for widowed mother and father allowance will be discovered at www.gov.uk/widowed-parents-allowance. Parents can declare widowed guardian’s allowance by a paper type, which will be downloaded from gov.uk or requested over the telephone.
Further bereavement assist and help will be discovered at www.gov.uk/after-a-death/bereavement-help-and-support.
Bereaved mother and father in Northern Ireland who could possibly be eligible ought to apply to the Department for Communities (DfC) in Northern Ireland.
The equal pages for bereavement advantages for folks in Northern Ireland are www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bereavement-support-payment and www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/widowed-parents-allowance.