The UK government might be on a verge of legal challenges as they extend more than a hundred million pounds to the UK's benefit bill. This is in connection with the UK's court ruling regarding the bereavement payment of an unmarried woman to her deceased partner.
The high court in Belfast ruled that Siobhan Mclaughlin's human rights were breached when she was denied with bereavement allowance from her partner's death. Following her husband's death, she was denied with two state benefits which she pointed out as a discrimination to her marital status and a breach of the Human Rights Act.
Mr Justice Treacy ruled that it is not all about the relationship status. He said that the fact that both parent's cohabited and her partner paid the government fees religiously for the past years is more than enough reason to allow Mclaughlin to get her bereavement allowance.
He added that it is strange for authorities to promote civil partnership where in fact these parents owe the same financial duties to their children. Restricting these types of benefits is equal to restricting the rights of the children also, he said.
Despite the fact the ruling was made in an Ireland, it will have the same repercussion on UK's law. This development would put the pensions of nearly 2,000 families who were denied bereavement allowance because of non-marriage in the discussion. This particular ruling was first denied in UK because it would cost the government an additional 30 million pounds on the budget.
The chief executive of Citizens Advice Northern Ireland, Pól Callaghan was delighted with the court's decision. He said that will help thousands of families across the UK. He hopes that the DSD would accept the ruling as this will be a big help for families that are in need.
