NAWRA is concerned that bereavement support payment has not been uprated in line with all the other benefits and tax credits, and in fact has not been uprated since it was introduced in 2017.
This is because it was introduced under the Pensions Act 2014 which does not require uprating.
On 24 Nov 2022, NAWRA wrote to Stephen Timms in his capacity as chair of the Work and Pensions Committee to bring it to his attention and to ask him if he could raise it as an issue either through a parliamentary question or from the Committee.
Stephen Timms tabled the parliamentary question below.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to uprate the value of the Bereavement Support payment, introduced at its current level in 2017; and if he will make a statement?
The question was answered on 1 Dec 2022. The government has decided not to uprate bereavement support payment. Read the reply.