How do I apply for ba widow’s pension?

I read your Money Mentor query in the Irish Farmer’s Journal last week concerning a widow’s (Angela) entitlements to the old-age pension. You responded to the effect that she needed 520 paid contributions but as she entered insurance in 1988/89 she had insufficient contributions (9x52).

All self-employed people needed to be under the age 56 in 1988/89 in order to qualify for a contributory old-age pension (minimum of 520 contributions). It is because the self-employed were allowed to enter the social insurance system for the first time in 1988/89, but those over 56 years could not qualify. The one point I want to make here is that they could, however, qualify in three years for the widow’s contributory pension – when 156 contributions were paid. The question I ask is: Could Angela have qualified for a widow’s pension?

David

A widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension is an important one for many who lose their partner. Many people do not realise it is available until it happens. It is a social insurance payment made to widows, widowers and surviving civil partners. It is based on the social insurance (PRSI) record of either the claimant or their late spouse or civil partner. The pension is not means tested, so your rate of payment is not affected by other income sources, such as an occupational pension, earnings from employment, etc.

To qualify for a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, Angela or her husband must still have paid a certain number of PRSI contributions. However, all the PRSI requirements must have been met on one person’s record. You cannot combine the contributions of both spouses (or civil partners). All must have been made before the death of the spouse or civil partner.

You are right. If Angela and/or her husband had paid 156 contributions (three years) after 1888/89, she should look into this aspect. However, it was not customary in 1988/89 for women to be the taxable party where their husband’s were alive, so I suspect that her husband was dead at this time. If Angela’s husband died before 1988/89 or before three years had been paid (1991), she is unlikely to qualify retrospectively. The reason is that no insurance would have been paid before the date of death.

Since 27 December 2013, the minimum number of paid contributions required for widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension increased to 260 (compared to the previous 156 paid contributions you pointed out).

Virtually all PRSI contributions count towards this pension, including contributions paid by public servants and the self-employed.

So, either the person or their spouse/civil partner must have:

The relevant date is the earliest of the following dates:

As you said, if your spouse/civil partner died before 27 December 2013, only 156 paid contributions are required. However, the yearly average condition must still be satisfied.

The other point is that you cannot get a widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension at the same time as a State pension (contributory). If you are entitled to both payments, you will be paid whichever is the higher amount.

For the state pension, if you reached pension age before 6 April 2002, you needed 156 qualifying full-rate contributions over a total of three years, but these did not have to be consecutive years.

The other issues people should remember is that widowed persons who apply late (more than six months after their spouse died) do not get a backdated entitlement beyond six months. This used to be longer. It can be a difficult time when someone dies, but the remaining partner should make an application for the widow’s/widower’s pension within six months to make sure they get all their entitlements

You can request a copy of your social insurance record online in the online services area of their website (www.welfare.ie) or by writing to the Central Records Section, Department of Social Protection, McCarter’s Road, Ardarvan, Buncrana, Co Donegal. LoCall 1890-690-690. You should include your: PPS number; name; address; date of birth; birth surname; mother’s birth surname; insurance number (if you worked in Ireland pre-1979); telephone number (in case they need to contact you).

Rates for Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension

Maximum weekly rate 2016: