Government adopts Committee recommendation on bereavement support

13 Jan 2017 11:38 AM

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. This was a recommendation of the Committee in its Support for the bereaved report in March 2016 on bereavement benefits.

• Read the Committee's report: Support for the bereaved
• Read the Committee's report: Support for the bereaved (PDF 835,4KB)
• Letter from Caroline Nokes MP to Chair re Committee's recommendations on bereavement support ( PDF 36 KB)
• Work and Pensions Committee

Chair's comment

Frank Field MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, yesterday said:

"We are pleased the Government has today announced an extension of the period for which BSP will be paid from 12 to 18 months. This is a very important change for families at what is invariably a traumatic time; not least because it means payments will no longer stop on the anniversary of the death. The Government should be applauded for listening to the evidence that we were so moved by."

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees