AIBU - Support for children when a father dies?

[WatermelonLou]

I have seen bereavement support payment being allowed to be backdated as co-habiting partners are now eligible. My two children lost their father a couple of years ago but we weren't together (were married but divorced). I moved on as did he. When he died so did the support he paid financially. He didn't have any life insurance or death in service provision as self employed. It's my understanding I cannot claim any money for the children as we weren't together. AIBU to expect children in this situation to be included as if the parents were together?

Nope kids get nothing. It sucks but that's life unfortunately, when my dp died ds and I were entitled to nothing even though we lived together and it was too long ago to claim under the new rules. Basically they closed 1 loophole and created more

YABU because if the parent needs it, they can claim universal credit. That is how it works for any non resident parent who can’t or won’t pay. That’s why the benefits system disregards CMS.

You ANBU!
My sons dad died when he was 3. We were together as a couple co parenting our son but didnt live in the same property so dont qualify either. It absolutley sucks! his dad was 50 so his pension contributions just went too. We got/get nothing.

I think there is the Ruth Straus counselling for DC who loses a parent. You could try looking that up. I suppose it's up to parents to take out life insurance if they have a partner or DC. If the parent left has a low income I suppose they might be eligible for UC benefits. I'm not sure about a bereavement fund payment if you have to be married to get it or not.

It's a precarious one isn't it? We hear about child poverty daily and how each party in leadership would work towards reducing it. The more I learn about this subject the more I hear of children who are without a parent, for example a parent in the age bracket 20-35... And not everyone is in a secure job or got themselves sorted by that age group therefore if they do pass away, and have children, there isn't much available for the children left behind. Therefore they are or could be plunged into poverty. With the COL as high as it is you could understand the pressure on single parent families due to bereavement especially if the person who died didn't leave or have any estate.

It's a grey area however circumstances like this are becoming more and more. I'm really glad the bereavement entitlement changed but again it could've been widened to capture kids left behind.