Widow's Bereavement Allowance

HC Deb 01 February 2001 vol 362 c289W

Mr.swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make Widow's Bereavement Allowance available to widowers. [148209]

Angela Eagle

We are introducing bereavement benefits in April which will be available to both men and women equally for the first time. There will be a new weekly benefit for widowed parents who satisfy the qualifying conditions and a new lump sum bereavement payment of £2,000—double the existing widow's payment.