Bereavement Support Payment reform petition debate, Digi Mart USA News (United Kingdom): A petition calling for changes to Bereavement Support Payment has received more than 108,000 signatures, enough to secure a debate in the House of Commons. MPs on the Petitions Committee have scheduled the debate for Monday, November 23, at 6pm.
The petition urges the government to reform Bereavement Support Payment so that families with and without dependent children receive help beyond 18 months, with annual uprating to reflect the cost of living. It states that the payment ends after 18 months and is not uprated, which it says can leave widowed families in financial hardship for years.
One supporting statement accompanying the petition describes a parent who lost her husband in May 2025, gave up her career to care for him, and now earns less than 25% of their previous income while raising two young children. The petitioner argues that the payment ignores long-term income loss and emotional strain, and compares it unfavorably with the former Widowed Parent’s Allowance, which lasted until Child Benefit ended.
Irene Campbell MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, will open the debate. Petition debates are general debates that allow MPs from all parties to discuss the issues raised and put their concerns to government ministers.
They do not end with a vote on the petition’s request. A government survey on the issue is also open for responses, which will be anonymous and summarized on the Parliament website.
According to the report, the current payment structure provides a one-off payment of up to £3,500 followed by 18 monthly payments of £350 at the higher rate. Those not eligible for the higher rate receive a one-off payment of £2,500 or 18 monthly payments of £100 instead.
The source does not indicate any government decision to change these rates.
