Widowed Parents allowance cut to 18 months

[Cherie]

It was previously paid until the child reached 16 or when 20 (if still in education)

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/bereavement-benefit-cut-cruel-unnecessary-frank-field-theresa-may-philip-hammond-a7622191.html

Among*the headlines around Philip Hammond’s first Budget, a poorly considered policy coming into force within weeks has gone almost entirely ignored. The cut to bereavement benefit, a payout that*supports families when one parent suddenly dies, is both cruel and needless – and goes against Theresa May’s stated objective of protecting Britain’s soft human underbelly.
The new bereavement benefit rules, which take effect from 6 April, significantly reduce the length of time that bereavement support is paid, from until the youngest child is 16 years old to just 18 months after the death of the parent. The Government has also refused to extend entitlement to the benefit to couples who were not married but who had children together, thus missing an opportunity to modernise the benefit and make it fit for today’s society.
In March last year, the Work and Pensions Select Committee, which I chair, published a report on support for the bereaved. In our report, we said that the financial impact of bereavement can – and often will – last much longer than one year (the shorter payment period initially proposed by DWP). We were deeply concerned that the payment would stop on the anniversary of the death, exacerbating the challenges of an already very difficult time for bereaved people. So we asked the department to lengthen the payment to, at the very least, 18 months and recommended it consider extending the monthly payments further. We also said that cohabiting couples with children should be eligible for the benefit. The needs of bereaved children of cohabiting parents are no different to those whose parents were married or in a civil partnership. We said that penalising children on the grounds of the marital status of their parents was unjust. Recent court cases show the judiciary agrees.

[Cherie]

The government say the previous system was outdated, and in our modern society both parents are likely to working. That still doesn't take away from the fact the deceased probably paid thousands in NI payments, so technically the benefit is the pension that will never be paid out on, or that the children would need the surviving parent to be around rather than working :umm2:

[Tom4784]

I'm not surprised, it's a Tory government after all.

[Niamh.]

The government say the previous system was outdated, and in our modern society both parents are likely to working. That still doesn't take away from the fact the deceased probably paid thousands in NI payments, so technically the benefit is the pension that will never be paid out on, or that the children would need the surviving parent to be around rather than working :umm2:

very good point

[Withano]

Its weird that the tories are so popular

[joeysteele]

Shocking policy, however as to things like this expecting anything other than heartlessness from this vile Party in govt. is now futile.

Even worse for me are the more fair minded voters who amazingly, and for me regrettably, help put this shower in power with their votes.

[jennyjuniper]

I don't want to sound heartless, but lucky in a way to have any sort of 'bereavement benefit. In Denmark it was always just a lump sum you were paid and then you were on your own. Having said that, things might have changed now.

[Cherie]

I don't want to sound heartless, but lucky in a way to have any sort of 'bereavement benefit. In Denmark it was always just a lump sum you were paid and then you were on your own. Having said that, things might have changed now.

Depends on what the lump sum is I guess?

[Wizard.]

I think the title of the benefit should be changed. 'Bereavement' benefit makes it seem like some sort of compensation, and it's likely if someone loses a parent they will be bereaving for their entire lives in one way or another. "Bereaved Support" benefit would be much more fitting, and this new policy would seem fairer, as it would support families until they are able to get back on their feet.

[Cherie]

I think the title of the benefit should be changed. 'Bereavement' benefit makes it seem like some sort of compensation, and it's likely if someone loses a parent they will be bereaving for their entire lives in one way or another. "Bereaved Support" benefit would be much more fitting, and this new policy would seem fairer, as it would support families until they are able to get back on their feet.

How does changing the title make it fairer? They are effectively putting a time limit on grieve as well as stealing the deceased NI payments which should be used to plug the gap in the loss of earnings of the deceased, it won't bring back a parent but might make life a bit easier and one less worry for the surviving partner

[Cherie]

actually it isn't called bereavement benefit, the media called it that, it was called Widowed Parents allowance before 6th April 2017 and and is now called Bereavement allowance

I should have been a journalist at least I would research the correct names :idc:

[Greg!]

I absolutely HATE the tories. Honestly why would anyone vote for them?

[Tom4784]

I absolutely HATE the tories. Honestly why would anyone vote for them?

Ignorance.

Our area is mostly working/middle class yet the Tory MP has been elected twice now and he's voted in favour of a lot of policies that would ultimately harm the area. Anybody of a working or middle class background is a fool if they vote for the Tories.

I could understand more well off people voting for them since their policies suit them but the general public should try to vote for their own situation more often, a Tory government does nothing but make life harder for anyone who isn't from an upper class background.

[Shaun]

The only reason I can see the tories being dependable at the moment are their relative resolution and collectivity when it comes to their policies. Whilst there are obviously the backbenchers and some who'd vote against the odd policy, the overall impression - especially when compared to Labour, UKIP and the Lib Dems - is that they are reliable in what they present. Of course it's all self serving, exclusionist nonsense that's ignoring the real cause of the economy being down the ****ter (don't worry, I'm not going to say it's Brexit :laugh: it's quite clearly the banks), but certainly now that the political climate is so fraught and confusing and unexplored, I do think people - perhaps subliminally - look to find some steady ground even when they aren't too fussed to look at their policies.

Which is a crying shame because cuts like these are the reason they should never be in power.

[Brillopad]

I don't want to sound heartless, but lucky in a way to have any sort of 'bereavement benefit. In Denmark it was always just a lump sum you were paid and then you were on your own. Having said that, things might have changed now.

I agree with this. Whilst sad, life goes on. They are a single parent now and have to get on with it like any other single parent.

Why does being a widowed single parent seem to carry a higher status as though having been 'married' somehow makes them more deserving of assistance.

[Cherie]

I agree with this. Whilst sad, life goes on. They are a single parent now and have to get on with it like any other single parent.

Why does being a widowed single parent seem to carry a higher status as though having been 'married' somehow makes them more deserving of assistance.

Maybe you would come across as less heartless if you suggested this should have been rolled out to all co habiting couple instead of clapping your hands in glee at the thought of the government stealing NI contributions of the deceased

[Brillopad]

Maybe you would come across as less heartless if you suggested this should have been rolled out to all co habiting couple instead of clapping your hands in glee at the thought of the government stealing NI contributions of the deceased

That's a bit strong - I'm not 'clapping my hands in glee' but as you say co-habiting and divorced people with young children don't get the same help. It seems very unfair and comes across as judgemental. I also see no need to pay it until children are 16.

[smudgie]

I think 18 months sounds fair enough.
I am assuming ( perhaps wrongly) that those already getting this benefit will keep it, the same as they did with widows pension. It would be tougher if they just stopped it.

[Livia]

The government say the previous system was outdated, and in our modern society both parents are likely to working. That still doesn't take away from the fact the deceased probably paid thousands in NI payments, so technically the benefit is the pension that will never be paid out on, or that the children would need the surviving parent to be around rather than working :umm2:

Totally agree with this.

[DemolitionRed]

Everything surely has to be based on NI contributions? I think this is appalling. The present system isn't outdated; its there because it works.

[Marsh.]

The government say the previous system was outdated, and in our modern society both parents are likely to working. That still doesn't take away from the fact the deceased probably paid thousands in NI payments, so technically the benefit is the pension that will never be paid out on, or that the children would need the surviving parent to be around rather than working :umm2:

Even if they carried on working, they're still one income short so the whole thing is baffling.