Supreme Court holds bereavement benefit rules are unlawfully discriminatory

McLaughlin, Re Judicial Review (Northern Ireland) (Rev 1) [2018] UKSC 48

In a widely publicised ruling, the Supreme Court has held that the scheme in Northern Ireland governing payment of Widowed Parents’ Allowance unlawfully discriminates against unmarried parents. The judgment of the majority focused closely on the implications for children affected by this differential treatment.

Steve Broach acted for the National Children’s Bureau in its intervention in Re an application by Siobhan Mclaughlin for Judicial Review (NI) [2018] UKSC 48, the intervention being described by Lady Hale as ‘helpful’

The judgment is available here.