Raise Bereavement Support Payment and extend beyond 18 months
Reform Bereavement Support Payment so families with and without dependent children receive help beyond 18 months, with annual uprating to reflect cost of living.
Signatures
37,416
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 37,416/100,000
- 04 FEB 2026Government respondedDepartment for Work and PensionsGovernment reply
Bereavement Support Payment provides valuable short-term help after a death. While we are not able to increase BSP at this time, longer-term support is available from other social security benefits.
Read full response - 20 JAN 202610,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 08 JAN 2026Petition opened for signaturesCreated by CAROLINE ANNE BOOTH
Background
BSP ends after 18 months and is not uprated, which can leave widowed families in financial hardship for years. I lost my husband in May 2025, gave up my career to care for him, and now earn less than 25% of our previous income while raising two young children. Previous Widowed Parent’s Allowance lasted until Child Benefit ended, offering stability. We feel that BSP ignores long-term income loss and emotional strain.