No assessment has been made. Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance is an income-replacement benefit. Entitlement to Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance ends on the formation of a new legal union or cohabiting partnership because that involves a change in the household composition and, consequently, household income. Universal Credit can provide ongoing assistance with living costs where further financial support is required.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3926", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Paul Maynard"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Blackpool North and Cleveleys"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Paul Maynard"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-01-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-01-15T14:23:25.823Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-01-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Widowed Parent's Allowance to allow continued claims if the individual remarries or lives with another person.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4923", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kim Leadbeater"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Batley and Spen"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kim Leadbeater"} ], "uin" : "8265"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002465", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1002465/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3349", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Buscombe"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Buscombe"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL11307"} , {"_value" : "HL11308"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-14T17:26:29.297Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many families with children in full-time education, with a deceased parent, received Widowed Parents Allowance in the tax years (1) 2011\u201312, (2) 2012\u201313, (3) 2014\u201315, and (4) 2015\u201316.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Altmann"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Altmann"} ], "uin" : "HL11306"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984782", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984782/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We are considering the court\u2019s ruling carefully and will update Parliament in due course.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-18T13:14:43.997Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish its response to the Supreme Court's ruling on Widowed Parent's Allowance; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1490", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bridgend"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mrs Madeleine Moon"} ], "uin" : "177637"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/865181", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/865181/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Current recipients of Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance will continue to receive that benefit for the natural lifetime of their award. There will be no change in payments of Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance to these claimants.<\/p>
<\/p>
Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) replaced Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance for those whose spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017.<\/p>
<\/p>
BSP is designed to provide targeted support to help with the immediate costs of bereavement without affecting access to financial help towards everyday living costs.<\/p>
It is for this reason that BSP is paid in addition to income related benefits, is not taxable and is not taken into account when calculating income for the benefit cap. These measures protect the financial security of the least well off families and ensure that they are not disadvantaged by the reform.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4495", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kit Malthouse"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Hampshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Kit Malthouse"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-23T12:21:44.99Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the changes made to the Widowed Parent's Allowance on the long-term financial security of widowed spouses.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4664", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Karen Lee"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Lincoln"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Karen Lee"} ], "uin" : "133048"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/709763", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/709763/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government published a consultation document in December 2011 entitled Bereavement Benefit for the 21st<\/sup> Century (link below) <\/em>which sought views on proposals to reform the current system (link below).<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/220372/bereavement-benefit.pdf<\/a>.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p> We received 50 responses from a variety of organisations including charities and the voluntary sector, and these were summarised in the Government Response published in July 2012 (link below). The organisations that responded are listed in that report.<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181257/bereavement-benefit-consultation-response.pdf<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-14T15:10:49.607Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which charities and voluntary sector organisations were consulted on proposed changes to the Widowed Parents' Allowance; and what the results of that consultation were.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4088", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stella Creasy"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Walthamstow"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stella Creasy"}
], "uin" : "67355"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/708631", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/708631/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Current recipients of Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance will continue to receive that benefit for the natural lifetime of their award. There will be no change in payments of Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance to these claimants.<\/p> <\/p> The new Bereavement Support Payment will replace Widowed Parent\u2019s Allowance and other bereavement benefits for those whose spouse or civil partner dies on or after 6 April 2017. Lower income households will benefit from this reform as, unlike the bereavement benefits it replaces, Bereavement Support Payment will be paid in full in addition to any income replacement benefits that they are entitled to. This will ensure that the least well off families are not disadvantaged.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4048", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Caroline Nokes"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romsey and Southampton North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Caroline Nokes"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-09T15:08:13.953Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of widowed parent's allowance claimants who would fall below the poverty line as a result of recent changes to that allowance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/304", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hall Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Roger Godsiff"}
], "uin" : "66529"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/573379", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/573379/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The new Bereavement Support Payment will be introduced from April 2017 for new claimants only. Existing claimants of Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance will remain on those benefits for the lifetime of their awards, so there will be no impact on them or their families.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-09-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-09-12T10:19:49.03Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Widowed Parent's Allowance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many widowed parents and bereaved cohabiting parents will be financially worse off as a result of the planned changes to the widowed parent's allowance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4413", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Kirsten Oswald"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Renfrewshire"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Kirsten Oswald"}
], "uin" : "44076"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/524053", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/524053/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Bereavement support payments will be introduced from April 2017 for new claimants only. Existing claimants of Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance will remain on those benefits for the lifetime of their awards therefore there will be no impact on them or their families.<\/p> <\/p> Bereavement Support Payment is forecasted to cost the Department for Work and Pensions an extra £100m in the first three years. The full cost to the exchequer will be greater than this as, unlike its predecessors, Bereavement Support Payment will not be taxable.<\/p> <\/p> Further information on forecast expenditure is provided via the link below.<\/p> <\/p>