UK Inquiry Tracker

Support for the bereaved

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 4 Mar 2019 Closed: 5 Nov 2019 Parliament page

This follow-up inquiry comes two years on from the implementation of Bereavement Support Payment. It will look at how the new benefit it is working in practice, and press the Government on its progress in responding to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, which found that the restriction of Widowed Parents … Read more This follow-up inquiry comes two years on from the implementation of Bereavement Support Payment. It will look at how the new benefit it is working in practice, and press the Government on its progress in responding to the 2018 Supreme Court ruling, which found that the restriction of Widowed Parents Allowance to only those parents who were married to their partner is incompatible with human rights law. In light of the CMA investigation into the funeral market, and the Treasury’s recent consultation on whether the pre-paid funeral market should be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Committee will also be looking at what progress has been made on its previous recommendations to tackle funeral affordability. Three years ago the Committee reported on the “ opaque, outdated” and inadequate state support for the bereaved . The Committee had particular concerns about the operation of the funeral industry—based on which the Competition Markets Authority has since opened an investigation . The Committee was also deeply worried about what the Chair described as the “profound injustice” that sees bereaved, unmarried parents denied support for their children that is granted to a parent that has lost their spouse. Send us your views The Committee would like to hear your views on the following questions. You can respond as an individual, a group or an organisation. You can answer any or all of the questions – please submit your evidence here by Friday 17 May . Is the new bereavement benefit (Bereavement Support Payment) working well? How well has the Government done at explaining and promoting when people are eligible for the new bereavement benefit? Do people who are eligible for Bereavement Support Payment find it easy to claim? What should be done to support bereaved parents who were not married to their partner, who aren’t currently eligible for the Bereavement Support Payment? Should entitlement to bereavement benefits be given to children, but claimed by the parents? What can be learned from other countries’ bereavement benefits systems? Has any progress been made on the Committee’s previous recommendation that the Government and industry agree the cost of a simple funeral? Show less

1 Report

3 Oral sessions

7 Letters

3 Events

Activity timeline 14 events

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Minister for Welfare Delivery, re uprating Funeral Expenses Payment 20190808

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, re Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Par…

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Minister for Welfare Delivery, re uprating Funeral Expenses Payment 8 August 2019

4 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Family Support, re Widowed Parents Allowance, dated 4 December 2018

22 Oct
2019

Report published

1st Report - Bereavement Support Payment

28 Aug
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Will Quince MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, to the Chair, concern…

17 Jul
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

17 Jul
2019

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster

Committee event

19 Jun
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

19 Jun
2019

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

7 Jun
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, to the Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of Wor…

5 Jun
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions

17 Jul 2019

View on parliament.uk

19 Jun 2019

View on parliament.uk

5 Jun 2019

View on parliament.uk

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
1st Report - Bereavement Support Payment	HC 85	22 Oct 2019	0

Correspondence 7 letters

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Minister for Welfare Delivery, re uprating Funeral Expenses Payment 20190808

Parliament page

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, re Bereavement Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance, dated 12 September 2018

Parliament page

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Minister for Welfare Delivery, re uprating Funeral Expenses Payment 8 August 2019

Parliament page

4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Family Support, re Widowed Parents Allowance, dated 4 December 2018

Parliament page

28 Aug 2019 To committee Letter from Will Quince MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, to the Chair, concerning the McLaughlin Supreme Court ruling

Parliament page

7 Jun 2019 To committee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, to the Rt Hon Frank Field MP, Chair of Work and Pensions Committee, regarding Support for the bereaved inquiry, 4 June 2019

Parliament page

9 Apr 2019 To committee Letter from the Chair to Will Quince MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child, Dept. for Work and Pensions, concerning the McLaughlin Supreme Court ruling

Parliament page