Northern Ireland mother wins Supreme Court benefit case

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45355028

An unmarried mother has won access to a Widowed Parent's Allowance in a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

Mother of four, Siobhan McLaughlin from County Antrim lived with her partner for 23 years- but never married.

After her partner's death, she was denied money that her children would have been otherwise entitled to.

Today's ruling is expected to have far-reaching ramifications - allowing people across the UK to apply for similar payments.

Siobhan McLaughlin lived with her partner John Adams for 23 years and they had four children together, but the couple were never married.

Mr Adams died in 2014.

Ms McLaughlin is now the sole provider for her family and works two jobs as a special needs classroom assistant and cleaner.

She said the money provided by the widowed parent's allowance would have been useful to her family.

[Angua]

Shame it needed a court case to sort this out in the first place.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Angua

Shame it needed a court case to sort this out in the first place.

Given the DWP's previous history on several other benefits before in the UK don't be surprised if further court proceedings are forthcoming.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Angua

Shame it needed a court case to sort this out in the first place.

Given the DWP's previous history on several other benefits before in the UK don't be surprised if further court proceedings are forthcoming.

I agree with both of you but expect Government (of which ever flavour) to legislate against it in the future. The costs have the prospect of Billions not just in terms of back payments.

Do I think she deserves it? Damn right I do! She got off her ass and ended up doing two jobs to try and make ends meet.

[Angua]

Originally Posted by pip08456

I agree with both of you but expect Government (of which ever flavour) to legislate against it in the future. The costs have the prospect of Billions not just in terms of back payments.

Do I think she deserves it? Damn right I do! She got off her ass and ended up doing two jobs to try and make ends meet.

A parent is still a parent, married or not. The CSA do not seem to worry about whether or not a father was wed to the mother. Therefore the same must apply to child related help via a widows child allowance.

[richard s]

One pays into the system but do not benefit in full from it.!!!