Survivors Allowances

Non-Contributory

The widow/widower’s non-contributory pension is payable to widowers under pension age. The widower’s pension is not payable to persons who have reached pension age. It is not payable to a person who has remarried, entered a civil partnership or is cohabiting. It is not payable to a person resident outside the State.

A Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension is a means-tested payment payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who does not qualify for a contributory widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s payment.

It is a payment for widows, widowers or surviving civil partners who do not have dependent children. People with dependent children may qualify for the One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional payment.

Qualification

The applicant must not cohabit with another person. He or she can keep the pension if divorced or a civil partnership has been dissolved, and the person would have been entitled to this pension had he or she remained married or in the civil partnership.

The survivor must

• Pass a means test and
• Be habitually resident in the State.

Means Test

Means are any income or property (except the home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide an income. Means are assessed using specific rules under the following headings:

• Cash income (including income from work)
• Value of capital (for example, savings, investments, cash on hand and property but not the own home)
• Income from property personally used

Any cash income is assessed in the means test. Certain items of cash income are not taken into account in the means test. Earnings of up to €100 per week from employment (but not self-employment) are not taken into account. Any income from work above €100 is assessed as means.

Savings, investments, cash on hand and any property (but not the home) is assessed as capital. All capital from different sources is added together and a formula is then used to find  the weekly means from capital.

The property and investments that may be assessed under this heading include savings in a bank account (or anywhere else), a house that is let, and stocks and shares. The applicant may or may not be getting an income from the property or investment. Income from property already assessed on its capital value is not assessed in the means test – see ‘Cash income’ above.

The first €7.60 per week of means as assessed by the Department of Social Protection does not affect the rate of pension. After that, the pension is reduced by €2.50 each week for every €2.50 of means.

Income from Home

The value of the residence is not taken into account in the means test. Income from the home (for example, renting a room) can be taken into account. However, the following exceptions apply:

If renting out a room means that the applicant  would not be living alone, then the  income from rent is not taken into account.
If living alone: up to (€14,000 per year) from renting a room in the home may be received without it affecting the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension. The person renting a room  must use the room for a minimum of 28 consecutive days and not be an employee or immediate family member.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting refugees from Ukraine is not assessed in the means test for the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension.

Rates

Weekly Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension rate 2024

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension

Maximum weekly rate

Widow, widower or surviving civil partner (under 66)

€232

This pension is taxable but the recipient is unlikely to pay tax if it is his or her only income.

Extra Benefits

A person in receipt of a Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Non-Contributory) may qualify for Fuel Allowance (if living alone or with certain ‘specified’ people).

If he or she is aged 60 to 65 and the  late spouse or civil partner was getting a Household Benefits Package at the time of their death, he or she may qualify for a Household Benefits Package. They may also qualify for help with funeral expenses and rent under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.