THOUSANDS of families are owed payments which could be worth as much as £10,000.
And time is running out as there are just six months left until a crucial deadline for making a claim – or risk missing out on the cash.
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Backdated payments are being made to more families after a change to rules.
It means cohabiting parents with dependent children are entitled to support if one of them passes away.
Previously they were excluded from the help which was just for those who were married or in a civil partnership.
Anyone affected in future will be able to make a claim for the bereavement benefits after a change to the law.
Around 21,000 who have already suffered a bereavement can apply for backdated payments.
Now those affected are being urged to make a claim as soon as possible.
DWP Minister Viscount Younger of Leckie said: “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.”
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The benefit they can get backdated will depend on when their partner died: before April 6, 2017 and it’s Widowed Parent’s Allowance, after that date and it’s Bereavement Support Payment.
The bereavement support payment is worth up to £3,500, plus £350 a month for 18 months for those eligible.
The amount the payments are worth depends on your circumstances.
Backdating goes as far as August 30, 2018, even if the bereavement was prior to this date.
Campaigners won a change to the law in the High Court and Supreme Court back in August 2018.
The government announced earlier this year that backdated claims could be made after it was passed into law.
Alison Penny MBE, director of the Childhood Bereavement Network, said: “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.”
The deadline for claiming is February 8, 2024.
After this, no claims for Widowed Parent’s Allowance will be accepted.
Claims for Bereavement Support Payment can still be made after this date, but it will be a reduced amount.
Am I owed a bereavement support payment?
To qualify for a payment, claimants must have met the eligibility criteria for either bereavement support payment or widowed parent’s allowance on or after August 30, 2018.
This means those who lost their partner before April 6, 2017, might be able to receive the legacy benefit widowed parent’s allowance, should they be found to have been eligible for this on August 30, 2018.
Similarly, a surviving parent who lost their partner on or after April 6, 2017 may be eligible for its replacement, bereavement support payment – should they have been qualified for this on August 30, 2018.
Keep in mind that the bereavement benefit and amount that people are entitled to will depend on when they lost their partner.
If you receive child benefit you will receive the higher rates but in order to receive the full amount, you must claim within the first three months of your partner’s death.
If you are getting bereavement support payment, it won’t affect your other benefits for a year.
After then, the income you get from it will be taken into account for means-tested benefits.
How can I claim bereavement support payments?
You can apply for bereavement support payment online, by telephone or by post.
To apply, you’ll need:
The government launched its online claims form on February 9 on a trial basis – so only a limited number of daily applications can be sent through.
You can apply for the benefit over the phone by calling the bereavement service helpline on 0800 151 2012.
To apply by post download the bereavement support payment BSP1 form from the government website, fill it in and return it to the address on the form.
