Survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes face benefit cuts in UK after accepting compensation

"Up to 13,000 of the survivors who are living in Britain risk losing access to essential means-tested benefits if they accept compensation, which can range from 5,000 to 125,000 (4,230 to 105,000) depending on the length of time people were resident. The Irish government's redress scheme was introduced after an inquiry detailed the horrific experiences of about 56,000 women and about 57,000 children who were placed or born in homes, mostly run by nuns, between 1922 and 1998."

"But because it is considered a recipient's savings it can result in losing means-tested benefits in Britain, such as universal credit or pension credit, and have an impact on financial support for social care. As feared, councils have begun sending letters to notify people who received payments that they will lose support such as housing benefit."

"Survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes have started to have benefits cut in Britain because they accepted compensation from the Irish government. The cuts to the means-tested benefits of survivors in Britain come as campaigners including the actors Siobhan McSweeney and Steve Coogan called on Keir Starmer to back a bill known as Philomena's Law, which would ringfence survivors' benefits."

Survivors of Ireland's mother and baby homes living in Britain are experiencing cuts to means-tested benefits after accepting compensation from the Irish government's redress scheme. Up to 13,000 survivors risk losing essential support including universal credit, pension credit, and housing benefit because compensation payments are treated as savings. The Irish government introduced the scheme following an inquiry documenting horrific conditions in institutions that housed approximately 56,000 women and 57,000 children between 1922 and 1998. Campaigners and actors including Siobhan McSweeney and Steve Coogan are urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support Philomena's Law, which would ringfence survivors' benefits. Some survivors have rejected compensation offers due to fears of losing financial support, with some subsequently dying during the six-month consideration period.

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