Cohabiting couples need clarity on retrospective payment
Cohabiting couples need clarity on retrospective payment - The Labour Party
- Kelly welcomes progress following Labour campaigning
- Retrospective payment must be addressed
Labour’s Alan Kelly TD has welcomed news that the Government will finally address the Social Protection anomaly and provide the widow and widower’s pension to surviving cohabiting couples.
Deputy Kelly said:
“Since Johnny O’Meara first raised this case with me in 2022, Labour has been to the forefront of pushing Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to address the gap in our social protection infrastructure for cohabiting couples.
“It is only right that the State provides a widow or widower’s pension when a member of a cohabiting couple passes away.
“There is now a question as to how retrospective this entitlement should be, considering that Johnny O’Meara’s case was won in the Supreme Court in January 2024.
“It has taken too long for the State to catch up with how people have lived their lives, and Government must now look at the retrospective payment of the pension to anyone impacted.
“The Labour Party has campaigned alongside Johnny O’Meara, my friend and neighbour, to see this day come to pass. Johnny and his three children are in my thoughts today as they remember Michelle.
“His bravery in taking on the State to address this inequality must be commended and it will be remembered. The lack of welfare support for unmarried couples has been a stain on Irish society for too long. It is only right that the Government finally catches up with where families are at.”