Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to improve awareness of the bereavement support payment.

Bereavement Support Payment provides vital support for working age people with the immediate costs following the death of a spouse or civil partner and our communications are directly targeted at this group.

We have updated GOV.UK with a step-by-step guide on what to do when someone dies. This includes information on bereavement benefit eligibility and signposts to the freephone DWP Bereavement Service helpline for further support. We have also produced a leaflet to help bereaved people understand what to do after a death, including where to get help and the type of financial support available. This leaflet has been shared with funeral directors and is available to order by Registrars and voluntary groups.

We continue to work with a range of external stakeholders to promote Bereavement Support Payment and to identify further opportunities to raise awareness of this benefit.