Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of financial support for widows and widowers who do not receive their late spouse's state pension following the introduction of the bereavement support payment.

No assessment has been made, however, the Department has a wide range of financial support available to those affected by bereavement.

Funeral Expense Payments contribute to the cost of a funeral arranged by someone in receipt of income-related benefits, and Budgeting Loans and Budgeting Advances are interest-free loans available to claimants of income-related benefits. Bereavement Support Payment helps working age people through the difficult period following bereavement when their spouse, civil partner (or cohabiting partner if there are children) dies. Further support for day to day living expenses is available via Universal Credit.