REGULATORY · UK
UK disregards Irish redress payments for survivors
Change
The UK agreed to disregard payments from Ireland’s mother and baby redress scheme so survivors living in Britain can continue to receive means-tested UK benefits.
Why it matters
UK authorities will exclude payments made under Ireland’s mother and baby redress scheme from means-tested benefit calculations. The commitment accompanies support for a bill known as Philomena’s law to ringfence survivors' benefits. The exclusion applies to survivors living in Britain, estimated at up to 13,000 people. Compensation amounts under the redress scheme range from €5,000 to €125,000 (£4,230 to £105,000) depending on length of residence.
Implications
- • Benefit-assessment processes must treat redress payments as disregarded income in means-tested calculations.
- • Caseworkers and automated eligibility systems will need to exclude redress payments when calculating entitlements.
- • Administrative guidance and benefits assessments for affected claimants must reflect the disregard of redress payments.
Who is affected
- • UK benefits administrators (DWP caseworkers and eligibility teams)
- • Claimants of means-tested UK benefits
- • Policy officials responsible for social security and redress implementation
Source
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