REGULATORY · UK
UK reduces means-tested benefits for Irish mother-and-baby home survivors
Change
The UK has started reducing means-tested benefits for survivors of Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes who accepted compensation from the Irish government.
Why it matters
Compensation awards under the Irish redress scheme range from €5,000 to €125,000 (£4,230 to £105,000) depending on length of residence. Up to 13,000 survivors living in Britain are identified as at risk of losing access to essential means-tested benefits. The redress scheme follows an inquiry that covered about 56,000 women and about 57,000 children placed or born in mother-and-baby homes between 1922 and 1998.
Implications
- • Acceptance of Irish redress payments reduces entitlement to UK means-tested benefits for affected survivors.
- • Affected survivors who accepted compensation face cuts to their benefit payments and potential loss of access to means-tested support.
- • UK benefits administrators will process reassessments for claimants who received redress payments.
Who is affected
- • Survivors of Ireland's mother-and-baby homes residing in the UK
- • UK means-tested benefits administrators
- • Administrators of the Irish redress scheme
Source
Topics