COHABITEES ENTITLEMENT TO BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT PAYMENT

That this House calls for reform to extend Bereavement Support Payment to people who were cohabiting but were not married or in a civil partnership; considers that the current position is manifestly unfair and ignores the reality of modern day Britain where cohabiting couples account for approximately one in five households; and recognises the damaging effects, both economically and emotionally, that excluding cohabitees from entitlement to Bereavement Support Payment has on the surviving cohabitee and any dependent children.