Commenting on today’s Supreme Court ruling in the case of Siobhan McLaughlin, a mother of four denied bereavement benefits on the basis she had not been married to her partner, Helen Morrissey Spokesperson at Royal London said:
"It is to be hoped today’s decision marks the beginning of the end of decades of injustice faced by cohabiting couples. Cohabitees can live together for many years, raise children together and pay exactly the same amount of National Insurance Contributions as their married counterparts and yet when one dies they can find themselves being treated very differently. We have estimated cohabiting couples could be missing out on as much as £82m a year1 in bereavement benefits. The government must recognise the growing trend towards cohabitation –there are currently more than 3.2m2 cohabiting couples in the UK and ensure the benefits system reflects this reality."
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For further information please contact:
Helen Morrissey, Corporate PR Specialist – Long Term Savings
- Email: helen.morrissey@royallondon.com
- Tel: 0203 272 5433
- Mob: 07919 170 712
About Royal London:
Royal London is the largest mutual life, pensions and investment company in the UK, with funds under management of £117 billion, 8.8 million policies in force and 3,745 employees. Figures quoted are as at 30 June 2018.