No benefits for unmarried
A WEDDING had felt like a financial extravagance too far to Laura Rudd and her partner when they had a child to feed and a mortgage to pay.
But when Nigel Glanville, 50, died of a heart attack last February, their lack of a marriage certificate meant Laura, 34, was not entitled to state support.
The psychology teacher had been with Nigel for nine years and their son Noah was not even three years old.
She started a petition calling for the benefits system to be changed, which attracted more than 100,000 signatures.
Laura said: “We both worked, paid National Insurance and were treated the same as married couples for tax purposes and Child Benefit. But when it came to help after he died, we got nothing.
“Like lots of people I made the mistake of thinking we had common law protection but that’s a fallacy.”
Laura, from Wilberfoss, East Yorkshire, added: “I’m lucky to have a good job and a supportive family.
“I’ve spoken to mums who faced losing their homes after the devastation of losing the father of their child.
“Even with the best budget and the best plan, life throws up all sorts of hidden costs and emergencies. The pandemic has shown us that.”