Campaign update: cohabiting couples with children

December 2022

We were very pleased to see that the Government has finally taken steps to right the injustice that has denied bereavement support to parents who weren’t married – by bringing long-awaited legislation back before Parliament to extend payments to cohabitees.

The so-called Bereavement Benefits Remedial Order will now go through a further 60-day period in Parliament before it becomes law. Parents cannot yet make claims under the new arrangements – we will let you know when the process opens.

We are urgently seeking more details and clarifications from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about how people can apply for the payments, and how backdated payments will work. We will let you know just as soon as we have any more information to share.

We are also awaiting further news on the Upper Tribunal case on behalf of cohabiting couples without children.