Martin Lewis helped a woman claim back nearly £10,000 in backdated DWP support following the death of her partner with one of his recent money tips.
Until February, individuals had the opportunity to claim any Widowed Parents Allowance or Bereavement Support Payments they might have qualified for in the previous six years. The criteria to claim also expanded to unmarried cohabitating couples.
The benefits, which are distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), provide financial support to people for a period after the death of a partner and can be worth thousands of pounds.
This became true for one viewer of ITV’s This Morning show, who wrote in thanking the Money Saving Expert for drawing attention to the benefit.
ITV viewer Chantelle said: “Martin Lewis has changed my life.
“You’ve changed my life because of you telling us about the Widow’s Bereavement Payment. I received nearly £10,000 after my partner died in 2019 three months before our daughter was born. I had nothing before.”
Chantelle said she spent “every second of every day worrying” before thanking the Money Saving Expert “from the bottom of her heart”.
After hearing the heartwarming note, Mr Lewis said: “The deadline was February 8 for claiming that backdated Widowed Parents Allowance for people who were unmarried – unmarried then got the same money as married couples – a lot of people have gotten hold of that money.
“Sometimes, there’s nothing wrong with spreading the word.”
While that six-year backdating window is now closed, it’s important to be aware of what DWP support is available during times of hardship.
Some people may also still be eligible to claim backdated payments if they suit certain criteria – so here are the rules.
What is the Bereavement Support Payment?
Bereavement Support Payments (BSP) has now replaced Widowed Parents Allowance (WPA) – those who still receive WPA will continue to get their payments until they’re no longer eligible.
It is not a means-tested benefit people can claim if they lost their partner who was under state pension age (currently 66), are living in the UK, and were married, in a civil partnership, or living with their partner.
The person’s late partner must have also either:
People usually need to claim within 21 months of their partner’s death. If it’s been over 21 months, people may still be able to make a claim if their cause of death was only recently confirmed. People are urged to call the Bereavement Service helpline for help.
How soon a claim is made can also affect how much money a person gets. People usually need to claim within three months of their partner’s death to get the full amount of payments.
The most a person will receive is a one-off payment of £3,500 or 18 monthly payments of £350.
However, some people may still be able to make backdated claims if their partner died before February 9, 2023.
Who is eligible to make a backdated Bereavement Support Payment claim?
According to the DWP, people may be able to get backdated payments of Bereavement Support Payment if:
- Their partner died after April 5, 2017
- When their partner died, they were living together as if they were married
- They were under the state pension age on August 30, 2018.
People must have also either been pregnant when their partner died, or had a child living with them when their partner died.
Additionally, people must have either:
- Received Child Benefit for that child between when their partner died and when they made their claim
- Been told by the Child Benefit Office that they were entitled to Child Benefit for that child between when their partner died and when they make their claim.
People who fit this criteria must apply before November 9, 2024, to get any backdated payments. The most people will be able to get is nine monthly payments of £350.
People can apply for support from the DWP here.
