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Written Question
Bereavement Support Payment
Thursday 21st January 2021

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of individuals who are entitled to claim Bereavement Support Payments fail to do so; and how information on these payments and their criteria for eligibility are disseminated to the general public.

Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott

Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) was introduced in April 2017, to replace Widowed Parent’s Allowance, Bereavement Allowance and Bereavement Payments. To date no assessment has been made of what percentage of individuals, who are entitled to claim Bereavement Support Payments, fail to do so.

Information is available which aims to ensure people are aware of bereavement support payment and how to claim it. The way such information is made available is under constant review. As well as traditional sources of information (such as leaflets), we have worked with funeral directors, Registrars and voluntary groups to try to ensure people are fully informed of the action to take following the loss of a husband, wife or civil partner. Further information about the benefits to which they are entitled and how to claim them can be found on the government services and information website at www.gov.uk.

Following the report of a death to the department’s ‘DWP Bereavement Service’, an eligibility check for BSP will be undertaken, and a claim can be taken over the phone. If a death is reported via the ‘Tell Us Once service’, the customer will receive a notification stating that there may be financial support available from the department. The notification includes the telephone number for DWP Bereavement Service and the gov.uk link.


Written Question
Access to Work Programme
Thursday 9th February 2017

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to increase awareness of Access to Work among employers.

Answered by Lord Henley

We are increasing awareness of Access to Work among employers through a range of communications, including using the Disability Confident campaign to provide information to employer organisations. Planned communications activity includes direct e-mail marketing to employers and employer associations, employer engagement at a national level through Jobcentre Plus National Employer and Partnership Team, and proactive local engagement through Jobcentre Plus partnerships managers, Disability Employment Advisers and employer advisers. We are also working closely with Remploy, who operate the Mental Health Support Service, to maximise opportunities to promote the service to employers.


Written Question
Employment: Disability
Wednesday 8th February 2017

Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to develop a review process for Disability Confident to ensure businesses are meeting their commitments.

Answered by Lord Henley

To become a Disability Confident Employer, an employer will need to test their business against a set of statements, and commit to take certain actions. As Disability Confident Employers move through towards becoming a ‘Disability Confident Leader’, they will need to put their assessment up for external challenge. These external validations could be done by a professional assessment body, a disabled user led organisation, a disabled staff forum, an existing DC Leader, or a combination of these. They will also need to take on a role working with other employers to encourage and support them to follow their own Disability Confident journeys.

When employers sign up as Disability Confident they are asked to make specific meaningful offers for disabled people such as jobs, apprenticeships, internships, and work experience. Jobcentre Plus staff will be working with the Disability Confident employers in their localities to develop these offers into opportunities for local disabled people.