Government support for the bereaved is changing: a new Bereavement Support Payment will be paid instead of the current suite of state bereavement benefits. Comment Christine Husbands, Managing Director for RedArc.

Among the most significant amendments, changes will materially impact parents as they will only receive payments for 18 months, instead of until the child is no longer eligible for child benefit.

Christine Husbands, managing director for RedArc says: “Bereavement support is about to become critical as these changes begin to bite. Employers should be checking their existing employee assistance programmes (EAPs) or insurance policies as many group life insurance plans have in-built bereavement support that can be accessed by the entire company – even if not everyone is covered under the insurance plan.

“Insurers should also be looking to work with reputable bereavement support services because whilst financial considerations are undoubtedly important, our experience is that finances are not the first thing people think of when experiencing a family bereavement. Emotional and practical support are both equally, if not more, important in supporting people through their grief.

“The recent documentary about how Rio Ferdinand coped following the death of his wife has helped raise the issue of dealing with bereavement and supporting children at a very turbulent time. Employers need to step up now more than ever to support their staff in similar situations; and insurers need to recognise the importance of including bereavement support in their policies.”