Father of two still unsure of widower's pension after budget ignores issue

Michael Smith (centre) and his kids Daniel (left) and Aoibhe (right) at their home in Listowel, Co Kerry. Photo: Dominick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD

Michael Smith has been raising his two young children aged seven and nine alone in Kerry since their mother died suddenly in 2018.

Her death left the children without their mother, Michael without his partner of 16 years, and a family without access to social welfare benefits simply because the parents were not married.