{"id":34996,"date":"2024-04-07T22:31:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-07T22:31:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=34996"},"modified":"2024-04-08T19:10:35","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T19:10:35","slug":"survivors-allowances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/","title":{"rendered":"Survivors Allowances"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Non-Contributory\" title=\"Non-Contributory\">Non-Contributory<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Qualification\" title=\"Qualification\">Qualification<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Means_Test\" title=\"Means Test\">Means Test<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Income_from_Home\" title=\"Income from Home\">Income from Home<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Rates\" title=\"Rates\">Rates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/#Extra_Benefits\" title=\"Extra Benefits\">Extra Benefits<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#SWCA_2005\" title=\"SWCA 2005\">SWCA 2005<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Widows_Non-Contributory_Pension_Widowers_Non-Contributory_Pension_and_Orphans_Non-Contributory_Pension_ss_162-171\" title=\"Widow&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widower&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension and Orphan&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension (ss. 162-171)\">Widow&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widower&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension and Orphan&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension (ss. 162-171)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Interpretation\" title=\"Interpretation.\">Interpretation.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Entitlement_to_pension\" title=\"Entitlement to pension.\">Entitlement to pension.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Avoidance_of_double_pension\" title=\"Avoidance of double pension.\">Avoidance of double pension.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Avoidance_of_double_pensions_in_relation_to_surviving_civil_partners_contributory_pension\" title=\"Avoidance of double pensions in relation to surviving civil partner&#8217;s (contributory) pension.\">Avoidance of double pensions in relation to surviving civil partner&#8217;s (contributory) pension.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Entitlement_to_a_guardians_payment_non-contributory\" title=\"Entitlement to a guardian&#8217;s payment (non-contributory).\">Entitlement to a guardian&#8217;s payment (non-contributory).<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Rate_of_pension\" title=\"Rate of pension.\">Rate of pension.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Civil_proceedings\" title=\"Civil proceedings.\">Civil proceedings.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/survivors-allowances\/2\/#Payment_of_pension\" title=\"Payment of pension.\">Payment of pension.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Non-Contributory\"><\/span>Non-Contributory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The widow\/widower\u2019s non-contributory pension is payable to widowers under pension age. The widower&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>A Widow&#8217;s, Widower&#8217;s or Surviving Civil Partner\u2019s (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&#8217;s, widower&#8217;s or surviving civil partner\u2019s payment.<\/p>\n<p>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&#8217;s Transitional payment.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Qualification\"><\/span>Qualification<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The survivor must<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pass a means test and<\/li>\n<li>Be habitually resident in the State.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Means_Test\"><\/span>Means Test<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Means are any income or property (except the home) or an asset that could bring in money or provide an income.\u00a0Means are assessed using specific rules under the following headings:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cash income (including income from work)<\/li>\n<li>Value of capital (for example, savings, investments, cash on hand and property but not the own home)<\/li>\n<li>Income from property personally used<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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 \u20ac100 per week from employment (but not self-employment) are not taken into account. Any income from work above \u20ac100 is assessed as means.<\/p>\n<p>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\u00a0 the weekly means from capital.<\/p>\n<p>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 &#8211; see &#8216;Cash income&#8217; above.<\/p>\n<p>The first \u20ac7.60 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 \u20ac2.50 each week for every \u20ac2.50 of means.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Income_from_Home\"><\/span>Income from Home<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>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:<\/p>\n<p>If renting out a room means that the applicant\u00a0 would not be living alone, then the\u00a0 income from rent is not taken into account.<br \/>\nIf living alone: up to (\u20ac14,000 per year) from renting a room in the home may be received without it affecting the Widow&#8217;s, Widower&#8217;s or Surviving Civil Partner\u2019s (Non-Contributory) Pension. The person renting a room\u00a0 must use the room for a minimum of 28 consecutive days and not be an employee or immediate family member.<\/p>\n<p>The Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting refugees from Ukraine is not assessed in the means test for the Widow&#8217;s, Widower&#8217;s or Surviving Civil Partner\u2019s (Non-Contributory) Pension.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Rates\"><\/span>Rates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Weekly Widow\u2019s, Widower\u2019s or Surviving Civil Partner\u2019s (Non-Contributory) Pension rate 2024<\/p>\n<p>Widow&#8217;s, Widower&#8217;s or Surviving Civil Partner\u2019s (Non-Contributory) Pension<\/p>\n<p>Maximum weekly rate<\/p>\n<p>Widow, widower or surviving civil partner (under 66)<\/p>\n<p>\u20ac232<\/p>\n<p>This pension is taxable but the recipient is unlikely to pay tax if it is his or her only income.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Extra_Benefits\"><\/span>Extra Benefits<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A person in receipt of a Widow&#8217;s, Widower&#8217;s or Surviving Civil Partner&#8217;s Pension (Non-Contributory) may qualify for Fuel Allowance (if living alone or with certain &#8216;specified&#8217; people).<\/p>\n<p>If he or she is aged 60 to 65 and the\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<h2>SWCA 2005<\/h2>\n<p>Chapter 6<\/p>\n<h4>Widow&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension, Widower&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension and Orphan&#8217;s (Non-Contributory) Pension (ss. 162-171)<\/h4>\n<p>162.<\/p>\n<h4>Interpretation.<\/h4>\n<p>(1)In this Chapter, save where the context otherwise requires &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;pension&#8221; means &#8211;<br \/>\n(a)a widow&#8217;s (non-contributory) pension in the case of a widow,<br \/>\n(b)a widower&#8217;s (non-contributory) pension in the case of a widower, and<br \/>\n(c)a surviving civil partner&#8217;s (non-contributory) pension in the case of a surviving civil partner;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;weekly means&#8221; shall, subject to Rule 1(1) of Part 5 of Schedule 3, be the yearly means divided by 52;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;widow&#8221; means a widow or a woman who would otherwise be a widow but for the fact that her marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;widower&#8221; means a widower or a man who would otherwise be a widower but for the fact that his marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State.<\/p>\n<p>(2)For the purposes of this Chapter &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)means shall be calculated in accordance with the Rules contained in Part 5 of Schedule 3,<\/p>\n<p>(b)a widow who has remarried or entered into a civil partnership shall not be regarded as the widow of her former spouse and a widower who has remarried or entered into a civil partnership shall not be regarded as the widower of his former spouse, and<\/p>\n<p>(c)a surviving civil partner who has entered into a new civil partnership or has married shall not be regarded as the surviving civil partner of his or her former civil partner.<\/p>\n<p>163.<\/p>\n<h4>Entitlement to pension.<\/h4>\n<p>(1)Subject to this Act, a pension shall be payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who has not attained pensionable age.<\/p>\n<p>(2)A pension payable to a widow, widower or surviving civil partner shall, subject to this Chapter, continue to be payable unless the beneficiary marries or remarries or enters into a civil partnership or a new civil partnership and in that case the pension shall cease as and from the beneficiary\u2019s marriage or remarriage or entry into a civil partnership or a new civil partnership.<\/p>\n<p>(3)A person shall not be entitled to a pension under this section unless he or she is habitually resident in the State.<\/p>\n<p>164. Rate of pension.<br \/>\n(1)The rate (in this Chapter referred to as &#8220;the scheduled rate&#8221;) of pension shall be the weekly rate set out in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 4.<\/p>\n<p>(2)<\/p>\n<p>(a)A pension shall be payable &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(i)where the weekly means of the claimant or beneficiary do not exceed \u20ac7.60, at the scheduled rate, and<\/p>\n<p>(ii)subject to paragraph (b), where the weekly means of the claimant or beneficiary exceed \u20ac7.60, at the scheduled rate reduced by \u20ac2.50 for each amount (if any) of \u20ac2.50 by which those weekly means exceed \u20ac7.60, any fraction of \u20ac2.50 in those weekly means being treated for this purpose as \u20ac2.50.<\/p>\n<p>(b)Where the rate calculated under paragraph (a) (ii) at which, but for this paragraph, the pension would be payable is less than \u20ac2.50, the pension shall not be payable.<\/p>\n<p>165. Increases.<br \/>\nDeleted from 29 September 2006<br \/>\nThe weekly rate of pension payable in accordance with section 164 shall be increased &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(a)by the amount set out in column (6) of Part 1 of Schedule 4 where the beneficiary has attained pensionable age and is living alone,<\/p>\n<p>(b)by the amount set out in column (7) of Part 1 of Schedule 4 where the beneficiary has attained the age of 80 years, and<\/p>\n<p>(c)by the amount set out in column (8) of Part 1 of Schedule 4 where the beneficiary has attained pensionable age and is ordinarily resident on an island.<\/p>\n<p>166. Disqualifications.<br \/>\nA widow, widower or surviving civil partner, as the case may be, shall not, if and so long as he or she is a cohabitant, be entitled to and shall be disqualified for receiving payment of pension.<\/p>\n<p>167.<\/p>\n<h4>Avoidance of double pension.<\/h4>\n<p>Where a widow or widower would, but for this section, be entitled to both a widow&#8217;s (contributory) pension or a widower&#8217;s (contributory) pension, as the case may be, and a pension under this Chapter, the latter pension shall not be payable except insofar as is provided by regulations under section 247.<\/p>\n<p>167A.<\/p>\n<h4>Avoidance of double pensions in relation to surviving civil partner&#8217;s (contributory) pension.<\/h4>\n<p>Where a surviving civil partner would, but for this section, be entitled to both a surviving civil partner&#8217;s (contributory) pension and a pension under this Chapter, the latter pension shall not be payable except insofar as is provided by regulations under section 247.<\/p>\n<p>168.<\/p>\n<h4>Entitlement to a guardian&#8217;s payment (non-contributory).<\/h4>\n<p>(1)Subject to this Act, a guardian\u2019s payment (non-contributory) shall be payable in respect of an orphan.<\/p>\n<p>(2)Not more than one payment shall be payable in respect of any one orphan.<\/p>\n<p>(3)A payment shall not be payable in respect of an orphan in respect of whom an increase under section 127 (1) or 174(1) is claimable.<\/p>\n<p>(4)Guardian&#8217;s payment (non-contributory) shall not be payable for any period during which a payment is made in respect of a child under Part VI of the Child Care Act 1991 and regulations made thereunder.<\/p>\n<p>(5)A person shall not be entitled to a payment under this section unless he or she is habitually resident in the State.<\/p>\n<p>169.<\/p>\n<h4>Rate of pension.<\/h4>\n<p>(1)The weekly rate (in this Chapter referred to as &#8220;the scheduled rate&#8221;) of guardian\u2019s payment (non-contributory) shall be the weekly rate set out in column (2) of Part 1 of Schedule 4.<\/p>\n<p>(2)<\/p>\n<p>(a)A guardian\u2019s payment (non-contributory) shall be payable where &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>(i)the weekly means of the orphan do not exceed \u20ac7.60, at the scheduled rate, and<\/p>\n<p>(ii)subject to paragraph (b), those weekly means exceed \u20ac7.60, at the scheduled rate reduced by \u20ac2.50 for each amount (if any) of \u20ac2.50 by which those weekly means exceed \u20ac7.60, any fraction of \u20ac2.50 in those weekly means being treated for this purpose as \u20ac2.50.<\/p>\n<p>(b)Where the rate calculated under paragraph (a) (ii) at which, but for this paragraph, the payment would be payable is less than \u20ac2.50, the payment shall not be payable.<\/p>\n<p>170.<\/p>\n<h4>Civil proceedings.<\/h4>\n<p>(1)Where, in any civil proceedings in any court, it is shown to the satisfaction of the court that pursuant to a claim of or on behalf of a person a pension was allowed or awarded or that the amount of a pension payable to or in respect of a person was varied and that the pension as so allowed or awarded or as so varied was at any time in course of payment to the person to whom the pension was payable, that person shall, in each case, be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, to have been in receipt of a pension of the amount so allowed or awarded or as so varied, as the case may be, from the date on which the pension of the amount so allowed or awarded or as so varied, as the case may be, became payable until the date, if any, on which the amount of the pension is varied or further varied, as the case may be, or the date on which the pension ceases to be payable, whether by reason of the death of the person or otherwise, whichever should first occur.<\/p>\n<p>(2)In this section &#8220;pension&#8221; means a widow&#8217;s (non-contributory) pension, a widower&#8217;s (non-contributory) pension, a surviving civil partner\u2019s (non-contributory) pension or a guardian\u2019s payment (non-contributory), as the case may require.<\/p>\n<p>171.<\/p>\n<h4>Payment of pension.<\/h4>\n<p>(1)Subject to this section, guardian\u2019s payment (non-contributory) shall be paid to the guardian of the orphan in respect of whom that payment is payable.<\/p>\n<p>(2)In this Chapter &#8220;guardian&#8221; means the person in whose care the orphan normally resides.<\/p>\n<p>(3)The Minister may, where he or she thinks fit, direct that a payment under this Chapter, payable to the guardian of an orphan, be paid to some other person for the benefit of the orphan or, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed, directly to an orphan who has attained the age of 18 years where that orphan is not normally residing with a guardian.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-34996\" data-postid=\"34996\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-34996 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Non-Contributory The widow\/widower\u2019s non-contributory pension is payable to widowers under pension age. The widower&#8217;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&#8217;s, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[288],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34996"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34996"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34996\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35023,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34996\/revisions\/35023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}