Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the 26-week continuous employment threshold for eligibility for Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay under the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act 2018; and what steps they are taking to ensure that bereaved parents are able to access financial support during a period of bereavement leave, regardless of length of service with their current employer.

Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)

The 26-week continuous employment requirement is standard across parental pay entitlements. Where employees do not qualify, we encourage employers to provide additional support where possible.

Through the Parental Leave and Pay Review we are considering improvements to the system, including existing entitlements, to better support working families.

Bereaved parents may be able to get Universal Credit if on a low income or needing help with living costs. In some circumstances, a Universal Credit payment that would otherwise reduce or stop following bereavement, including the death of a child for whom an adult is responsible for, continues for a short time.

Found: Pensions Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 (c. 5), paragraph 47 of the Schedule to the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act