A new system for bereavement benefits has been slammed by former Manchester United and England captain Rio Ferdinand.
He's blasted the move which will see a new support payment method of a lump sum and up to 18 monthly payments.
Currently, widowed parents can receive payments until their youngest child leaves school.
Ferdinand tragically lost his wife to breast cancer almost two years ago and now features in a new BBC documentary (Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad) where he talks about his loss.
Rio and his late wife, Rebecca. Credit: PA
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His wife left behind their three children, and Rio has admitted he struggled to cope.
The documentary sees Rio confess that he turned to alcohol to help him get over his wife's death.
Perhaps, to put it all in perspective, the outstanding line is: "Playing football was a fucking walk in the park compared to telling your kids their mum isn't coming back."
Rio investigates what support is currently out there and is told, reassuringly, 'there is a life out there afterwards'.
Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 live about the changes, he said: "I don't understand how the government can actually say there's a time scale on it, because there is no time scale on anything to do with bereavement.
"Every individual is different. One person may take six months. Another person may take 10 years.
"There isn't a time when you can say, 'yeah I'm over it'. Putting a number on it is the wrong thing to do."
What's out there currently?
- Bereavement Allowance - If you are aged between 45 and State Pension age the allowance lasts 52 weeks from the date your partner died.
- Widowed Parents Allowance - This continues until you stop getting child benefit. If this happens in less than a year, then the bereavement allowance can then be collected.
- Bereavement Payment - A tax-free lump sum of £2,000 providing your partner paid National Insurance contributions and you were below State Pension age when they died.
All these can help with the costs of a grieving family. Reports from the Money Advice Service suggest the average cost of a funeral, using a funeral director, is around £3,700.
The proposed changes will not apply to those already receiving the benefits, but Rio is standing up for people who will be affected.
Credit: BBC/Rio Ferdinand: Being Mum and Dad
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The new deal comes in as of April 6.
The government believes the move is a way of updating traditional beliefs.
A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: "We're updating an old system that was based on the outdated assumption that a widowed parent relied on their spouse for income, and would never work themselves.
"This doesn't reflect people's lives today.
"The 18-month Bereavement Support Payment helps with the immediate costs when someone loses their spouse or civil partner and the support can help protect families from sudden financial difficulties."
Whereas change is often considered a good thing, this is undoubtedly going to please some, but not others.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Death, Benefits, Funeral, Alcohol