Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to extend bereavement payment to the parents or guardians of children who have died.
We have no current plans to extend Bereavement Payments to the parents or guardians of children who have died. Bereavement Payments are lump sum payments made to those whose spouse or civil partner has died in cases where the deceased has paid sufficient National Insurance contributions in order to qualify. Bereavement Payments are one of the bereavement benefits that will be replaced by the new Bereavement Support Payment for deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2017