Survivors of Ireland’s mother and baby homes are facing the possibility of losing benefits in the UK if they receive compensation from the Irish government, a concern raised in Westminster.

A campaign, supported by various political parties and public figures like Steve Coogan, has gained momentum, with over 100 MPs and peers signing a letter advocating for a change in the law to prevent survivors in the UK from being disqualified from means-tested benefits.

The compensation process initiated by Ireland aims to address the painful legacy of mother and baby homes, offering financial redress to unmarried mothers who were marginalized and hidden away in church-run institutions.

However, around 13,000 survivors residing in Britain may lose access to crucial means-tested benefits if they accept compensation, which ranges from €5,000 to €125,000 based on residency duration.

The current system considers compensation received through the Irish scheme as savings, potentially impacting eligibility for benefits like universal credit and pension credit, as well as social care support.

A proposed solution, known as Philomena’s Law, seeks to introduce an 'indefinite capital disregard' to ensure that compensation does not affect benefits eligibility for survivors. This model has been successfully implemented in other cases, such as the 7/7 and Manchester bombings, and the Windrush scandal.

The bill, named after Philomena Lee, a prominent figure in the mother and baby homes narrative, aims to provide survivors with both financial redress and essential benefits without forcing them to choose between the two.

The Irish government's redress scheme was established following an inquiry that uncovered the harrowing experiences of thousands of women and children in these institutions, shedding light on the abuse, neglect, and forced separations that occurred.

A DWP spokesperson expressed sympathy for those affected by this tragic chapter in history and stated that they are currently assessing how compensation payments might impact benefit entitlement.