15 December 2023 , 09:36
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One Martin Lewis fan shared how they received £9,800 after following the MoneySavingExpert.com founder's advice.
The success story was shared in this week's MSE newsletter. This week's newsletter highlighted the upcoming deadline regarding Bereaved Support Payment and Widowed Parent’s Allowance. This is a payment given to people by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people who have lost their partner.
In February 2023, UK law changed after a Supreme Court ruling. Initially, the money was only available to parents who were married or in a civil partnership. However, the new ruling extended the eligibility criteria to also include couples who were cohabiting and had dependent children.
The DWP opened a 12-month window in February for cohabitating parents to backdate their claims. The deadline for backdating claims is February 8, 2024.
Martin Lewis has urged people to check whether they are eligible to claim some cash. One Martin Lewis fan wrote in to tell the MSE team that they had followed his advice and managed to claim some money back. The person - only known as Lynda - told the MSE team that their step-grandson lost their partner and they had two children together aged five months and four years.
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Lynda said their step-grandson was struggling as was unable to work for more than a few hours but after telling him about the money, he was able to claim £9,000 within two weeks. This extra cash has allowed him to pay off his debts and book a holiday for himself and his children.
Lynda said: "My step-grandson received over £9,000 within two weeks. His partner died after having an epileptic seizure whilst breast-feeding their five-month-old son. They also had a four-year-old. He's paid off his debts and booked a holiday for himself and his young boys. He has really struggled and been unable to work more than a few hours. Now he can see light at the end of the tunnel. I am so glad I read the weekly newsletter."
The MSE newsletter told readers that the amount you may be able to claim is dependent on when your partner died. If your partner died on or after April 6, 2017, then you might be able to claim Bereavement Support Payment. If they died before this date, you may be entitled to Widowed Parent’s Allowance. You have to be under state pension age to qualify.
The earliest point payments can be backdated to is August 30, 2018 - so you could claim around five years' worth of payments. You also would have needed to qualify for either payment on this date to be eligible for the backdated payments.
The Bereavement Support Payment is worth £2,500, plus £100 a month for 18 months for those eligible. If you get Child Benefit or you were pregnant, you receive higher rates. This includes a first payment of £3,500, plus £350 a month for 18 months - this means you could receive a £9,800 payment.
If you are unsure of whether you qualify, then the MSE newsletter said you should make an application anyway. The MSE newsletter said as the deadline is so close you should "just cross your fingers & apply".
The newsletter read: "I've spoken to Govt and got it to promise me there's no negative if you apply when not due, you just won't get it."