Children of cohabiting parents now eligible for bereavement benefits

15 February 2023

Tom Royston

Earlier this month the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that cohabiting parents will be able to claim bereavement benefits to help them bring up dependent children.

This comes as a result of two cases brought by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) with The Childhood Bereavement Network (CBN) in which GCN’s social security specialist Tom Royston was involved: 

The changes to the eligibility criteria mean that cohabiting parents and carers whose partner dies from 9 February 2023 will be able to make a claim for Bereavement Support Payment if they meet the other eligibility criteria. We expect around 1,800 more families to be able to make a claim each year.

Around 21,000 families will also be able to make retrospective claims. Because the eligibility criteria were found to be unlawful on 30 August 2018, the Government will also make retrospective payments back to that point to those who had missed out because they were not married or in a civil partnership. Some of these families will have been bereaved as long ago as 2001.

For more information about how to claim read: Cohabiting parents and bereavement benefits (childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk)

To find out more about The Childhood Bereavement Network’s successful campaign, read their press release at: Cohabiting parents will be eligible for bereavement benefits from tomorrow (childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk)

Chambers news

Chambers news

The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025: Garden Court North Chambers nominated for Set Outside London of the Year

Garden Court North Chambers has been shortlisted as Set Outside London of the Year for The Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025.

Chambers news

167 cross-party MPs and Lords sign letter calling for an undiluted Hillsborough Law

138 MPs and 29 Lords have signed a letter calling for the UK Government to deliver a full and undiluted ‘Hillsborough Law’.

Chambers news

Covid-19 Inquiry: Module 6 public hearings begin on adult social care sector

On 30 June 2025, public hearings will begin for Module 6 of the Covid-19 Inquiry, investigating the pandemic’s impact on adult social care.

Chambers news

Garden Court North’s protest rights team to host ‘Understanding Anti-Zionism’ webinar with Professor Avi Shlaim

On 7 July, Garden Court North's protest rights team will host an exclusive webinar on 'Understanding Anti-Zionism' alongside Professor Avi Shlaim.

Sign up to our mailing list

Our mailing list is dedicated to professionals with an interest in our work.

Sign up