Why Bereavement Support Shouldn't End After 18 Months
- Wendy Grainger
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
Because the impact of losing a parent lasts far longer than 18 months
As a grief and loss specialist, I spend my days supporting people through some of the most devastating experiences of their lives. But I'm also a widow.
When my husband Ben died, I was left raising our two young children alone.
Like many families, Ben was our main breadwinner. I was working part-time as a teacher, and his income was a significant part of our household finances.
Overnight, our family lost not only a husband and father, but also the income that helped keep a roof over our heads, food on the table, and opportunities available to our children.
The Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) was helpful in those early months. It provided some financial breathing space at a time when I was struggling to function, let alone make major financial decisions. But grief does not disappear after 18 months, and neither do the financial consequences of losing a partner.
When the payments stopped, the impact was immediate.
The cost of raising children doesn't end after 18 months. School uniforms still need replacing. Children still need food, shoes, school trips, and the opportunity to participate in clubs and activities that support their wellbeing.
Widowed parents continue carrying the financial responsibilities of two people with only one income.
One of the things I struggle to understand is the contrast between bereavement and separation. When parents separate, child maintenance recognises that both parents remain financially responsible for their children.
Yet when a parent dies, that financial contribution disappears entirely.
Until 2017, Widowed Parent's Allowance provided support until a child was no longer eligible for Child Benefit. Today,
Bereavement Support Payment ends after just 18 months, regardless of the age of the children left behind. The long-term financial impact of losing a parent has not changed, but the support available has.
Many widowed families also feel frustrated that their spouse or partner may have paid National Insurance contributions for decades, yet the financial support available following their death is extremely limited.
While some people may be entitled to inherited State Pension benefits in certain circumstances, many surviving partners receive no ongoing income linked to the contributions their loved one made throughout their working life.
In my own situation, I am no longer eligible for means-tested support such as Universal Credit because I am now cohabiting. My partner is incredibly supportive and contributes to our household, but my children's financial future should not become his responsibility simply because their father died.
Widowed families can find themselves in a position where they are considered too financially secure for state support, yet still carrying the very real and lasting financial consequences of losing a partner's income.
This is not about putting a price on grief. It is about recognising the practical reality that bereavement creates long-term financial hardship for many families, particularly those raising children.
A petition is currently calling for Bereavement Support Payment to be extended beyond 18 months and increased in line with the cost of living.
At the time of writing, more than 42,000 people have signed, but 100,000 signatures are needed for the issue to be considered for debate in Parliament. The petition closes on 8 July 2026.
Whether you are bereaved, work with bereaved families, or simply believe that children should not face financial disadvantage because a parent has died, I would urge you to read the petition and consider signing and sharing it.
Because the impact of losing a parent lasts far longer than 18 months.
If you work with bereaved families, please share this article and the petition. We need 100,000 signatures for Parliament to consider a debate on this issue.
If this is your experience, if you work with people who have experienced this, if you know someone in this situation, or you agree with extending BSP, please consider signing the petition.
If you need emotional support following the loss of a spouse, we are here to help. Please get in touch.
About Wendy
Wendy Grainger is a grief and loss specialist based in Wiltshire. She delivers a structured mental health and wellbeing programme to help people acknowledge their loss and find a way forward. Wendy holds qualifications as a Certified Rainbow Baby Specialist and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Practitioner, and works with clients one to one and in groups, both online and in person. You can learn more about Wendy here.
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