A Jewish former Conservative minister has asked the government to reverse a cut in the benefit paid to bereaved parents because it goes against the Torah.

Baroness Altmann, who was a pensions minister under David Cameron, said Jews were required “to show compassion for widows and bereaved children”.

The measure, which came into effect in April, reduces the period a parent with school-age children who loses a spouse can receive bereavement benefit to 18 months. previously, Payments were made until the youngest child left full-time education.

Baroness Altmann, who is one of a number of cross-party peers urging the government to rethink, said the cut was “cruel”.

In a BBC interview she praised a 51-year-old man with terminal cancer, who, before he died, used the media to described how the change could lead to his family potentially losing more than £50,000 in benefits.

She said:  “I know there is feeling across the House of Lords. 

I feel so passionately that the government should think again on this issue.

“Jewish principles require us to show compassion for widows and bereaved children, and I want to try to help if I can.”

Baroness Altmann, who wrote to Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green in April, said it was the role of peers “to try to persuade ministers to think again” and hoped they would after the election.

She also commended recent statements by Prince Harry and Prince William about their struggles to cope with the death of their mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997.

The princes had demonstrated  that the impact of losing a parent lasts long beyond the new period covered by the benefit will cover, the peer said.

“What is the welfare state for if not to support families in such desperate situations?

“Losing a parent is devastating and, as Princes William and Harry have highlighted recently, it takes years to overcome the grief. The policy change means children lose support after just 18 months which is clearly not long enough to deal with their grief.”