Do you work with persons who have become bereaved? If so the DWP has launched a new 'Bereavement Service' which may be of interest to you.
This is designed to offer a quicker and simpler way of notifying the DWP about a death and offer appropriate advice, rather than expecting the bereaved individual to ring around various departments or agencies as at present.
The Service aims to collect all the information the DWP needs to know about the deceased, carry out a quick eligibility check to find out which benefits the surviving relative may be entitled to and takes claims for Bereavement Benefit and Social Fund Funeral Payments over the telephone.
The service can be contacted on 0845 606 0265.
The topic is 'Sudden and Unexpected Death'. Please click on the links below.
Leeds Bereaved Children's Charter
Below is a radio interview with Professor Sir Albert Aynsley Green.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/onetoone.mp
Find below a report from the Yorkshire Evening Post regarding the Launch
Children's Charter News Report
We are looking for people who might be interested in becoming involved in setting up a SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) group in Leeds. SOBS is a volunteer run group offering peer-support to people who have been bereaved by suicide. (See www.uk-sobs.org.uk) If you have suffered a bereavement through suicide in the past (at least two years) and feel you are now able to offer support to someone else then please contact sue.watts@lbforum.org.uk