Johnny Timpson: For better or worse, richer or poorer

clock • 4 min read

Johnny Timpson holds forth on bereavement benefits, cohabiting inequalities and the upcoming Supreme Court case in Belfast

It is now more than 75 years since the publication of the Beveridge Report which laid the foundations for the UK's welfare state, and we're now a year on from some of the most significant reform to working age benefits since then.  The lack of support for bereaved mothers and children was one of the ‘evils' that Beveridge wanted to tackle with a specific suite of bereavement benefits. But the April 2017 reform introduced a new Bereavement Support Payment benefit, which falls short. The level of support is now £350 per month with discretionary increases, and the provision period is 18 ...

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

Quarter of mid-lifers have sought advice: Royal London

Quarter of mid-lifers have sought advice: Royal London

Hold the most protection products

Jaskeet Briah
clock 17 June 2025 • 3 min read
NHS receives £29bn per year boost

NHS receives £29bn per year boost

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review

Cameron Roberts
clock 11 June 2025 • 3 min read
Reassured customers receive £67m in pay outs

Reassured customers receive £67m in pay outs

Marks a 34% year-on-year increase

Jaskeet Briah
clock 04 June 2025 • 2 min read