An organisation representing unmarried parents and their children has welcomed the Government’s plans to expand the widow’s pension.
New legislation will allow the scheme to be extended to co-habiting couples who have been together for five years with just a two year wait for couples with children.
It comes following a Supreme Court in January of last year that Toomevara man Johnny O’Meara was entitled to the widowers pension.
The widower took the challenge after he had previously been refused by the High Court – his partner of 20 years Michelle Batey died in January 2021 after contracting Covid-19.
The couple had lived together and had three children but they weren’t married, nor had they entered into a civil partnership.
Treoir says it’s a move in the right direction and around 500 families are set to benefit.
CEO Damien Peelo says a consultation period is now needed to ensure no one is left behind.
