Widowed parents’ struggle gets worse

WIDOWED parents with children under 18 are being pushed into poverty as the virus hits stretched finances, charities warn today.

Three in four mums and dads who lose a co- parent suffer a drop in income as they become sole earner and caregiver.

School closures and early limits on informal childcare meant many have struggled to work full- time, while others have taken a salary cut under furlough or paid extra in childcare.

Vicky Anning, of charity Widowed and Young ( Way), said its members with children often describe losing a partner as “doing twice the work for half the pay”. She said: “This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has seen many widowed parents reduce working hours and struggle to put food on the table.

“One key worker told us she had used credit cards to pay an extra £ 800 in childcare costs since March on top of her £ 1,000 monthly bill because of her antisocial shift patterns and lack of family help.

“A widowed dad- of- two reported that he had to leave his job as a surveyor because a request for reduced hours was refused and he was now claiming Universal Credit.

“His wife only died last September and his bereavement benefits will run out shortly after Christmas, leaving him struggling to make ends meet.”

Around 23,600 parents with dependents died in 2015 alone, leaving 41,000 under 18s.

Bereaved partners have no right to paid compassionate leave, while funeral costs are rising.

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Under Bereavement Support Payment ( BSP) bereaved spouses and civil partners under pension age may get a tax- free lump sum of £ 3,500 to help with funeral costs, plus 18 payments of £ 350 a month.

Under the pre- 2017 system, the average claim lasted five to six years but was taxable and capped.

The change, which saved £ 100million a year, was to stop families being “benefit dependent”.

But a 2017 Way survey of members showed that three- quarters did not feel financially secure 18 months after losing a partner, with 13 per cent forced to quit their jobs.

Cohabitees are not entitled to BSP, despite the Supreme Court ruling it is a breach of their human rights.

The Department for Work and Pensions said it intends to extend BSP “to cohabitees with children”, while those on low income can also claim Universal Credit or Funeral Expenses Payments.