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<p>The Government’s position remains that it believes the existing legal framework,
involving a fixed level of award and clear eligibility criteria, represents a reasonable,
proportionate and practical approach.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to extend availability
to other family members (including fathers of illegitimate children) whose relationship
to the deceased person may be less close may require a fundamentally different approach
which would permit enquiries into the nature of the relationship in individual cases.
This could lead in some cases to intrusive and upsetting investigation of the claimant’s
relationship with the deceased person and could also increase the cost and complexity
of the proceedings.</p><p> </p><p>The context is important - bereavement damages are
widely recognised and accepted as a fixed payment in acknowledgment of grief and are
in no way intended to try to reflect the value of the life lost in monetary terms.
They are only one element of the damages that may be awarded in a particular case,
which for example can also include damages for dependency.</p><p> </p><p>The statutory
sum for bereavement damages was increased in 2020 (to £15,120).</p>
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