Hello- can anybody help?

This is a general query regarding the rules governing Widows Pension and Bereavement Premium.

I am slightly puzzled as to the logic surrounding the above.

As an example, a client may receive £43.28 per week in Widows Pension. With no other benefit entitlements, this gives her a figure of £12.37 in Income Support, her total weekly income coming to £55.65

If this ends after a year, and the client is entitled to claim the Bereavement Premium until 2006, her income levels will rise to £79.60 per week.

Is there a reason behind this, as I would have thought that additional help would perhaps be needed in the period folowing the death of the spouse. Does anybody know the thinking behind this? Am I missing something?

Er ... I think you might be missing something. Widow's Pension and Breavement Premium have no connection - the latter was introduced when WP was abolished in respect of new widows from April 2001 onwards and replaced by Bereavement Allowance for one year only, both sexes. B. All'ce has a single fixed rate - currently £79.60 pw. So, when it ends after 52 weeks, the widow(er) was faced with moving on to IS/JSA at £55.65 pw, a drop of £23.95. If you're old enough, you get the premium at this amount to protect the income you've become used to, the assumption being that at your age you'll find it tough to get work and leave the benefit system. Widows getting WP from before April 2001 simply aren't in this loop (and if on a reduced level WP due to early widowhood will get made up only to £55.65 by IS/JSA, as you say).

One thing still puzzling me, though ... why is the BP only a temporary measure due to fizzle out in April 2006?

Jim

Hi- thanks for that, I was getting very confused.

I must bring the rates of Bereavement Allowance to your attention, though. It isn't actually a fixed rate; £79.60 is the full amount, which reduces down to £23.88 per week. The amount payable is influenced by the National Insurance contributon of the deceased spouse and the age of the claimant when widowed (it reduces by 7% for every year the claimant was under 55 when h/she was bereaved).


As to the Bereavement Premium in means tested benefits ending in 2006.... Well, the only group that it's benefited are people who were between the age of 55 and 60, between April 2001 and April 2006. Obviously, at the age of 60, Pension Credits kick in for this partcular group; everybody gets £105 per week and are supposedly happy. I suppose that you're right, and the thinking is that, at present, the bereaved 55 - 60 group are going to find it difficult to get a job, so there's that safety(ish) net for them. What plans are afoot after 2006 is anybody's guess. Logic would dictate that either the 55-60 age group are just simply going to be left to their own devices, or that plans are afoot to facilitate a return to 'work'. Or am I just being conspritorial?

Sorry to add to your confusion! I was thinking of the 55+ age group to whom Bereavement Premium applies. As far as what happens when BP finishes, it's as you say - who knows?

Jim