100 signatures reached
To: TDs and Senators
Enact the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill
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We are asking TD's and Senators to:
- Publicly commit to fast-tracking and passing the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill within the first six months of the new Dáil.
- Ensure the Bill includes all cohabiting partners, with or without children, and provides backdated payments to eligible families.
- Hold the Government accountable for delivering on its promise to support bereaved families and speak out in the Dáil to demand action.
Why is this important?
Currently only the bereaved partner of a married couple can access the Widow's/Widowers pension, but thanks to a Supreme Court ruling in January 2024 after a successful case taken by John O'Meara and his 3 children, the Government have been ordered to end the discrimination to non-marital families.
The government have developed legislation called the Bereaved Partners Pension which will extend the Pension entitlement to the bereaved partner of cohabiting couples (those not married to each other).
Despite this, one year since the ruling of the Supreme Court on 22nd January, many grieving partners are still being refused the much needed pension despite the Supreme Court order.
Their applications to the Department of Social Protection are still be refused as they do not meet the criteria for the existing Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension.
We are urging TD's and senators to act now and ensure that cohabiting couples are no longer discriminated against, and that the legislation lives up to its promise. We need the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill enacted once and for all - let us not wait another year to do the right thing.
Grief doesn't discriminate - so neither should the pension.
The government have developed legislation called the Bereaved Partners Pension which will extend the Pension entitlement to the bereaved partner of cohabiting couples (those not married to each other).
Despite this, one year since the ruling of the Supreme Court on 22nd January, many grieving partners are still being refused the much needed pension despite the Supreme Court order.
Their applications to the Department of Social Protection are still be refused as they do not meet the criteria for the existing Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension.
We are urging TD's and senators to act now and ensure that cohabiting couples are no longer discriminated against, and that the legislation lives up to its promise. We need the Bereaved Partners Pension Bill enacted once and for all - let us not wait another year to do the right thing.
Grief doesn't discriminate - so neither should the pension.