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  5. Court verdict brings hope that ‘decades of injustice’ may be coming to an end

30 August 2018

Court verdict brings hope that ‘decades of injustice’ may be coming to an end

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Helen Morrissey, Personal Finance Specialist

Helen Morrissey

Personal Finance Specialist

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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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Note to editors

  1. Royal London policy paper – The Living Together Penalty
  2. Royal London policy paper – Could Living Together Seriously Damage Your Wealth

For further information please contact:

Helen Morrissey, Personal Finance Specialist

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.