Bereavement Benefits
(asked on 19th February 2019) - View Source
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many families with children were receiving Bereavement Benefit or Bereavement Support Payments in (1) 2015–16, (2) 2016–17, and (3) 2017–18; and how many such families are estimated to receive payments in (a) 2018–19, and (b) 2019–20.
The latest available information is given below.
Widowed Parents Allowance recipients with dependants by Quarter, Feb 15 to Aug 18
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|
|
| WPA with dependants | |
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| |
Feb-15 | 44,949 | |
May-15 | 45,589 | |
Aug-15 | 43,667 | |
Nov-15 | 43,206 | |
Feb-16 | 44,350 | |
May-16 | 45,411 | |
Aug-16 | 44,767 | |
Nov-16 | 42,554 | |
Feb-17 | 43,884 | |
May-17 | 44,138 | |
Aug-17 | 39,164 | |
Nov-17 | 38,751 | |
Feb-18 | 38,158 | |
Aug-18 | 34,254 | |
Source: Department for Work and Pensions
Notes:
- Statistical disclosure control has been applied to this table to avoid the release of confidential data. Totals may not sum due to the disclosure control applied.
- Widowed Parents Allowance: Weekly benefit payable to widowed parents. A widow/widower may be entitled to this if his/her late spouse/civil partner had paid enough NIC and the widow/widower is receiving Child Benefit or can be treated as entitled to Child Benefit,or the late spouse/civil partner was receiving child benefit, or expecting her husband's/civil partner's baby (pregnant from fertility treatment).
Bereavement Support Payment claims in payment by rate of BSP and month, April 2017 to September 2018
|
| Rate of BSP | |
| Total | Standard Rate | Higher Rate |
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|
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Apr-17 | 2,240 | 1,880 | 360 |
May-17 | 5,120 | 4,210 | 910 |
Jun-17 | 7,850 | 6,470 | 1,390 |
Jul-17 | 10,700 | 8,800 | 1,910 |
Aug-17 | 13,500 | 11,120 | 2,370 |
Sep-17 | 16,270 | 13,430 | 2,840 |
Oct-17 | 19,270 | 15,940 | 3,330 |
Nov-17 | 22,250 | 18,450 | 3,800 |
Dec-17 | 25,440 | 21,160 | 4,280 |
Jan-18 | 28,870 | 24,000 | 4,870 |
Feb-18 | 31,860 | 26,520 | 5,340 |
Mar-18 | 34,970 | 29,120 | 5,850 |
Apr-18 | 37,940 | 31,650 | 6,380 |
May-18 | 40,960 | 34,030 | 6,930 |
Jun-18 | 43,860 | 36,410 | 7,450 |
Jul-18 | 46,870 | 38,900 | 7,970 |
Aug-18 | 49,870 | 41,390 | 8,480 |
Sep-18 | 52,730 | 43,740 | 8,990 |
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Source: Clerical administrative data
Notes:
- Rate of BSP: There are two rates at which BSP can be paid: higher or standard. Claimants who are entitled to Child Benefit or who were pregnant when their husband, wife or civil partner died will get the higher rate. All other claimants will get the standard rate.
- Month: These figures represent the situation at a specific point in time, which is on the last day of the reporting month. Monthly claims in payment figures include backdated payments.
Forecasted figures broken down to the level requested are not readily available, and to provide them would incur disproportionate costs. However, the figures available at a broader level are presented below.
Caseload information by Bereavement benefits
Bereavement related benefits caseload | 2018/19 Forecast (in thousands) | 2019/20 Forecast (in thousands) |
Bereavement Allowance (previously widow's Pension) | 103 | 98 |
of which working age | 103 | 98 |
of which pensioners | - | - |
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|
|
Bereavement Support Payment | 49 | 55 |
of which higher rate | 8 | 9 |
of which lower rate | 41 | 46 |
Bereavement benefits & Widow's benefits | 54 | 43 |
Notes:
- Caseload figures represent an average over the full financial year; caseloads for benefits which commenced or ended during a financial year still reflect an average over the full year.
- Numbers for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20 are forecasts, and as such are liable to change.
- Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.
- ‘-‘ Denotes nil or negligible.
- ‘.’ Denotes not available.