Government approves change to bereavement support rules

Following approval granted by the House of Lords last week, the house of Commons yesterday (25 January) approved the Order, which means cohabiting parents and their children will now be eligible to receive bereavement support payments. Previously, parents who were living with but not married or in a civil partnership with their partner were excluded from the benefit, previously known as the Widowed Parent's Allowance. The benefit is based on National Insurance contributions of the partner who had died and will soon be open for new eligible claimants, as well as for back payments going...