Unmarried parent ruling: 'we were treated like second-class citizens'

Mother-of-two Janet Cowden was forced to seek benefits after the sudden death of her partner

Paul Shoesmith, the partner of Janet Cowden, was killed in the Isle of Man’s TT races two years ago after his tyre burst. The couple, who had two young boys, had been together for five years. They were engaged but had been too busy to organise a wedding.

Shoesmith’s death at the age of 50 left Cowden bereft but without any time for mourning as she attempted to reorganise her family life and sort out her finances.

Related: Denying widow's allowance to unmarried mother ruled illegal

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2NyhRM8