It became law on Thursday 9 February 2023, so cohabiting parents and carers will be able to claim the same bereavement benefits to help bring up their grieving children as if they had been married or in a civil partnership.The changes to the eligibility criteria mean that cohabiting parents and carers whose partner dies from 9 February 2023 will be able to make a claim for Bereavement Support Payment if they meet the other eligibility criteria. It is expected that around 1,800 more families will be able to make a claim each year.Around 21,000 families will also be able to make retrospective claims. Because the eligibility criteria were found to be unlawful on 30 August 2018, the Government will also make retrospective payments back to that point to those who had missed out because they were not married or in a civil partnership. Some of these families will have been bereaved as long ago as 2001.If you have a client or beneficiary of an estate who might be affected you can find out more here: https://bit.ly/3YWW4SG for details of the eligibility criteria and how to claim.Thanks to Gill SteelThere is no substitute for proper Wills etc, and whilst we don’t write them, we know people who do – please get organised and get in touch!See also 1975 Act Claims          and Probate Disputes