Urgent warning for 12,000 parents who risk missing out on £10,000s payments after major rule change

THOUSANDS of parents risk missing out on £10,000s of payments after major rule change.

Households who were previously denied support are now able to claim bereavement reimbursement but time is running out.

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A rule change last year meant that cohabiting parents with dependent children are now able to apply for bereavement benefits.

Before this, only couples who were married or in a civil partnership were able to claim if a partner died.

However, according to the BBC recent figures show that only about 5,000 people have applied.

Eligible households can make backdated claims going back years, which could lead to thousands of pounds, but they must do so by February 8.

The benefit they can get backdated will depend on when their partner died: before April 6, 2017, and its Widowed Parent’s Allowance, after that date and its Bereavement Support Payment.

The bereavement support payment is worth up to £3,500, plus £350 a month for 18 months for those eligible. 

However, the amount the payments are worth does depend 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.

After the deadline of February 8, 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.

The Sun has contacted the DWP for more information and will update here when we hear more.

Am I owed a bereavement support payment?

To be eligible 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 are receiving child benefit you will receive higher rates but the claim must be made within the first three months of your partner’s death.

It is important to note that bereavement support payments do not affect other benefits for a year.

After that, the income you get from it will be taken into account for means-tested benefits.

How can I claim bereavement support payments?

There are several ways you can apply for bereavement support payments.

You can make a claim online, by telephone or by post but you will need to get a few documents together first.

To apply you will need:

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.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk