Bereavement Research Forum
Bereavement Research Forum
Anne Corden & Michael
Hirst,
Senior Researchers at
the Social Policy
Research Unit,
University of York
Abstract
Money, Bereavement and Grief:
Financial Implications of the death of a life partner
The full report is available at: php.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/1148/
When a person’s life partner dies, there are changes in many of the financial
arrangements built up by the couple over the years, affecting income levels and
benefit entitlements, spending patterns, and money management.
Bereaved people in Britain are known to be at particular risk of poverty and problem
debt. Little attention has been paid, however, to the financial and economic
implications of the death of a partner. Anne Corden and Michael Hirst are working in
this area, and will discuss findings from their recent ESRC funded study.
The research combines quantitative analysis of data from the British Household
Panel Survey on over 750 couples where one partner died, with qualitative
interviews with 44 people whose partner had died recently.
The findings have implications for a range of policy areas including pensions,
benefits, taxation, and housing finance. Experiences of and feelings about financial
and economic issues also affect the grieving process.
The authors consider how their findings might provide additional perspectives within
models of bereavement. Findings will inform practitioners in bereavement services,
primary and social care, palliative care, and legal advice