Draft letter to MPs

From 6 April 2017, the system of benefits for bereaved families will change. I am very worried by these changes, and as your constituent I would be grateful if you would raise my concerns by

  • attending a Westminster Hall debate on 2 March
  • writing to the Minister Caroline Nokes MP, or
  • participating in the Delegated Legislation Committee that will scrutinise the regulations.

Support is being shortened

The current system of Widowed Parent’s Allowance supports families until the youngest child leaves full time education. This support is being abolished for new claimants, and replaced with Bereavement Support Payment that will be paid for just 18 months. 91% of families with children will be supported for a shorter period than they would have been under current arrangements. I don’t think it is fair that a 6 year old whose mother died in 2016 will be supported until she leaves school, but one whose mother dies in 2018 will be supported for just 18 months.

The longer term support offered by the current system of Widowed Parent’s Allowance isn’t simply to replace the income of the mum or dad who died: it also recognises that bringing up grieving children makes it harder for the surviving parent to support themselves. Children’s grief carries on emerging for years after the death, and this brings new challenges to their mum or dad who are struggling to keep them on an even keel, while coping with their own sorrow. Moving families onto Universal Credit with its conditionality requirements won’t give parents the flexibility they need to support their children.

[INSERT YOUR OWN REASONS FOR WHY FAMILIES NEED SUPPORT FOR LONGER]

Families with children should be supported for longer than 18 months, and the Childhood Bereavement Network has worked out a way of spreading the payments differently over three years – at no additional cost to the taxpayer. I would be grateful if you would urge the government to consider this.

Support is being cut

According to DWP’s latest figures, for 75% of families with children (88% of those in work, and 57% of those out of work) the support isn’t just being shortened, it’s being cut. While the very poorest families will see a gain, we are worried about the ‘just about managing’ widows and widowers, who will lose out by up to £16,800 compared to the median claim of Widowed Parent’s Allowance of 5-6 years. Families with younger children will be disproportionately badly affected, as they can currently claim for longer.

Support will be worth less

At the same time as shortening the payment, the government is also breaking the link with inflation. The value of the new Bereavement Support Payment will be less over time, while childcare and other expenses of bringing up a family are likely to rise. Grieving families will receive less and less in real terms. I want to see the new Bereavement Support Payment linked to inflation so that it keeps its value.

Support isn’t available to children whose parents weren’t married

Despite being heralded as ‘bereavement benefit for the 21st century’, the new Bereavement Support Payment won’t be paid to parents who were living together but not married. That’s the case even if they had been living together for many years and had children together. Lots of couples simply don’t realise that their children will lose out if they don’t marry. It’s harsh to deprive children of support based on their parents’ marital status. Making cohabiting couples eligible could help children in 2,000 grieving families a year.

Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely