Written question asked by Lord Risby (Conservative) on Tuesday, 24 February 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 February 2009. It was answered by Baroness Ussher (Labour) on Wednesday, 11 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Widowed Parents Allowance

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have made a late claim for (a) widowed parents allowance and (b) bereavement allowance in each of the last five years; how many people claiming bereavement allowance have been refused on the grounds that the claim was submitted after more than 12 months from the death of their partner in the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of those eligible for bereavement benefits to have claimed them in the last five years.

Secondary information