Updated: Govt extends Bereavement Support Payment term but questions remain

clock • 4 min read

The government has announced that the new Bereavement Support Payment which comes into effect in April this year will be extended from 1 year to 18 months, although payments are now lower on a monthly basis.

This was a recommendation of the Committee in its Support for the bereaved report in March 2016 on bereavement benefits. The reforms come into effect from 6 April 2017 and is now one benefit which replaces bereavement payment, bereavement allowance and widowed parent"s allowance. Caroline Nokes MP, minster for welfare delivery, said of the changes: "The old system could be unfair, complex and also act as trap preventing people from moving on with their lives.  "That"s why we are modernising this support into a simple, uniform and easy-to-understand benefit that better reflects soci...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Individual Protection

Beagle Street enters intermediary market

Beagle Street enters intermediary market

Life and CI

Cameron Roberts
clock 19 June 2026 • 3 min read
CIC claims for prostate cancer up by 65% since 2023: Aviva

CIC claims for prostate cancer up by 65% since 2023: Aviva

£38m paid out for prostate cancer in 2025

Jaskeet Briah
clock 15 June 2026 • 1 min read
Partner Insight: The evidence bottleneck - why claims slow down, and how we fix it together.

Partner Insight: The evidence bottleneck - why claims slow down, and how we fix it together.

Faster evidence. Clearer updates. Better support. Changes that could ease the bottleneck.

Dave Thompson, Senior claims technical manager, Scottish Widows
clock 15 June 2026 • 4 min read