‘My husband has just died aged 28. Now I’m counting the pennies’: Grieving mother and children denied support after benefit changes

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. I’ve got three kids and they expect me to bring them up on thin air.” open image in gallery Dan playing with Albie, Charlie and Scarlett Sarah had believed she would receive bereavement support payment, which would act as a replacement for Dan’s sickness benefits, but a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions stated that she was not eligible because her husband, who worked as a bricklayer, had not paid enough national insurance contributions. open image in gallery Sarah with Dan whilst he was in the hospice When asked about Sarah’s case, the DWP said she was eligible for “further support” through the wider welfare system. We are more or less stuck in the house.” Widowed and Young, a charity providing support for people aged 50 or under whose partners have died, which has been calling on the government to urgently review the changes to bereavement support, says Sarah’s is the first case it has come across where a claimant has been denied payment on the grounds of national insurance contributions. It’s not easy watching your 28-year-old husband literally disappear in front of you.” A DWP spokesperson said: “People are entitled to the full payment of Bereavement Support Payment if their late spouse or civil partner has paid around six months’ national insurance contributions.