Widowed mum calls for bereavement payment reform

A mother from West Sussex is calling for better financial support for bereaved families after she struggled to pay the bills following the sudden death of her husband.

Stephanie May-Hills, from Billingshurst, says bereavement support payments (BSP), which last for 18 months and have not risen since 2017, do not go far enough.

She has joined other bereaved parents to launch a parliamentary petition calling for support to continue until children reach 18, which has so far received more than 17,000 signatures.

The government said BSP provided short-term support, while other benefits were available if longer-term income support was needed.

May-Hills married her husband, Martin, in 2016 and the couple had two children together before he died unexpectedly from a catastrophic cardiac arrest at home in November, 2021.

She said: "Martin was the main breadwinner. He was working full time and I work part time as a dental nurse. Losing his income and relying only on mine was a massive change.

"I was numb and traumatised and just at a loss thinking how am I going to pay the rent, the council tax, put petrol in the car and do this week's food shop."

She said when the support stopped after 18 months it felt like the government was saying: "You're fine now, you should be over it by now," which she said she found "really hard mentally".

Since the payments stopped, May-Hills said money was so tight to pay the bills and household essentials that she rarely had any money left to take her children out.

If bereavement support is claimed within three months of someone's death, a spouse or partner who is a parent can receive an initial payment of £3,500 followed by 18 monthly payments of £350 totalling £6,300.

It is not means-tested, payments are not taxed and it can be paid in addition to other benefits.

BSP payments have not risen since they were introduced in 2017. The petition is calling for an annual uprating.

Campaigners also want to see BSP extended until the youngest child reaches 18, as other payments were prior to reform in 2017.

In a statement, a Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: "Losing a loved one is devastating and we understand the financial impact it can have on families.

"Bereavement Support Payment provides short term financial support, with higher amounts paid for those with children.

"Where longer-term income support is needed, individuals can look to benefits such as Universal Credit, which have been specifically designed to provide ongoing assistance with living costs."

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line.

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected], or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.