Supreme Court rules in favour of unmarried 'widow'

clock • 2 min read

Court rules government's refusal to pay benefits breached family's human rights

The Supreme Court has ruled, with a four-to-one majority, that a Northern Irish mother is entitled to widowed parent's allowance following the death of her partner, despite the couple having not being married. Siobhan McLaughlin was denied both a lump sum of £2,000 bereavement payment, as well as a widowed parent allowance of £118 a week, despite having lived with John Adams and having four children by him. Ms McLaughlin had initially won a case in 2015 at the High Court on the grounds that refusal to pay her widow's allowance on the grounds of her marriage status violated the Human R...

To continue reading this article...

Join COVER for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, key trend analysis and industry insights.
  • Stay on top of the latest developments around health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion and the cost of living crisis.
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletter.
  • Members only access to monthly programme 'The COVER Review'
  • Be the first to hear about our CPD accredited events and awards programmes.

Join now

 

Already a Cover member?

Login

More on Insurer

MetLife enters Irish market

MetLife enters Irish market

Launches group life cover

Cameron Roberts
clock 06 January 2026 • 1 min read
New deputy chair for BIBA

New deputy chair for BIBA

Michael Rea to take the role

Cameron Roberts
clock 18 December 2025 • 1 min read
2025 in review: Insurers report on progress

2025 in review: Insurers report on progress

Products, regulation and employee health

Cameron Roberts
clock 18 December 2025 • 6 min read