I am sharing this case around pensions for bereaved partners. It is a landmark case which has secured equal treatment for all bereaved partners including spouses, civil partners and qualifying cohabitants. The fact that John O’Meara is from my father’s birthplace in Toomevara is even more meaningful.
A little background on this case – John O’Meara challenged the refusal of a widower’s pension after his long-term partner, and mother of their three children passed away. The law at that time excluded cohabitants from eligibility even if they had children together and had made sufficient social insurance contributions.
In January 2024, following John O’Meara’s challenge, the Supreme Court found that excluding cohabitants from bereavement pensions was unconstitutional and discriminatory The Court underlined that all children are equal, regardless of their parent’s marital status and that financial supports should be available to all families suffering a bereavement, not just those who are married.
As a result, the Irish Government introduced the Social Welfare Bereaved Partner’s Pension Bill 2025 which extended eligibility for contributory pensions to qualified cohabitants for the first time. This means that people who lived together in a committed relationship for at least two years with children, or five years without children are now eligible for the same financial supports as married or civil partners. Payment will be backdated to the date of the Supreme Court judgement in January 2024.
The legislative change is widely recognised as a significant step toward equality and fairness for all bereaved partners ensuring that no-one is left without support simply because of their relationship status. It is estimated that it will cost €50 million a year to provide this entitlement.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/756788977027068
#toomevara
#pensions2025
#breakingbarriers
#equlity
