UK GOVERNMENT MUST STOP DITHERING OVER “DISCRIMINATORY” WIDOWED PARENTS ALLOWANCE ELIGIBILITY

Following a Supreme Court ruling in August 2018 that the UK Government’s refusal to pay Widowed Parent’s Allowance to widowed parents who are not married but live as co-habitees was discriminatory and breached the European Convention on Human Rights, still no payments have been made to parents affected. Bereavement charities say that denying this benefit affects 2000 families every year, causing them financial hardship.

I have raised this matter several times since this court ruling and before it, and did so again. The UK Government needs to do the right thing and stop punishing bereaved parents and their children for choosing not to marry.