Eight-year-old reads letter about bereavement payments

Sam, whose father died when he was five years old, sent a letter to his local MP about his concerns of changes to benefits for bereaved families. His letter was then read out by the Shadow Pensions Secretary Alex Cunningham in Parliament.

The rule change will limit payments to widowed parents to a maximum of 18 months.

A DWP spokesman said "We're modernising the support we offer, replacing an outdated system that doesn't reflect people's lives today. The new Bereavement Support Payment is simpler, easier to understand, tax-free and doesn't affect the amount received from other benefits, so families can access wider welfare support".

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