The widow’s pension in Ireland: everything you need to know

Knowing what financial support you’re entitled to as a widow can provide some much-needed relief at a difficult time. On this page, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about widow’s pensions in Ireland, from eligibility criteria and pension amounts for a widow, to application processes and other benefits available to widowers.

Known in official terms as the “widow’s, widower’s, or surviving civil partner’s pension”, the widow’s pension in Ireland is a weekly payment by the government to provide financial support to someone whose husband, wife, or civil partner has passed away. You don’t need to have retired to claim the widow’s pension, but, if contributory, it may affect your payment amount.

The widow’s contributory pension is calculated based on the number of social insurance contributions either you or your spouse made. It is not means-tested, meaning that your entitlement to a contributory widow’s pension is not affected by income from, for example, an occupational pension or other earnings you might have.

If you don’t qualify for the contributory widow’s pension, you might be able to claim a widow’s non-contributory pension, but this is a means-tested payment. The amount of pension you receive is affected by income sources like earnings from work, savings, investments, and more.

To qualify for a widow’s pension in Ireland, either you or your deceased spouse/civil partner must have paid enough pay related social insurance contributions (PRSI). You must be a widow, widower, or surviving civil partner, or divorced from your late spouse or civil partner, and you should not be living with another person (as husband and wife or as civil partners). You must also not have remarried or entered into another civil partnership, as this would end your entitlement to the widow’s pension.

For the contributory widow’s pension, you’ll need 48 full PRSI payments on either your or your deceased partner’s social insurance record to receive the full payment. Even if you didn’t make PRSI payments, but your partner did, you’ll still qualify based on their payments.

To be eligible for a contributory widow’s pension, either you or your spouse/civil partner must have:

1. Paid contributions: At least 260 paid contributions before a specific date. This date is:

• The date your spouse or civil partner passed away,
• Your spouse’s/civil partner’s 66th birthday if their social insurance record is used, or
• Your 66th birthday if your social insurance record is used

AND

2. Average contributions: You must have either:

• An average of 39 contributions in either the three or five years before your spouse/civil partner’s death, or before they turned 66, OR
• A yearly average of at least 24 paid or credited contributions from the year of first insurance entry until the year of death, or reaching the age of 66. This is for the minimum pension – to get the full pension, you’ll need an average of 48 contributions.

To find out if you’ve made enough contributions, you can request a statement of your PRSI contributions from the government.

To qualify for the non-contributory widow’s pension in Ireland, you must:

• Be under 66 years old and widowed, a widower, or a surviving civil partner,

• Not have dependent children or live with another person,

• Live in Ireland on a regular basis, and

• Pass a means test to assess your financial situation.

If you have dependent children, there are other options for financial support, such as the One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseeker’s Transitional payment.

The widow’s pension rate you are entitled to in Ireland varies depending on the type of pension you’re applying for, and how old you are. If you haven’t reached retirement age yet, you’ll receive a slightly lower contributory pension amount than if you were aged 66 or over.

In Ireland, the contributory widow’s pension amount is determined by age and PRSI contributions. So, if you’re over 66 and have at least 48 contributions, the maximum weekly widow’s pension rate is €277.30. If you’re under 66, it’s €237.50. This amount decreases based on your PRSI contributions. 

This table shows the contributory widow’s pension rates for 2024:

If you are eligible for the non-contributory widow’s pension, you will receive up to €232 per week. Anyone with weekly income of €235.11 or more will be ineligible for non-contributory widow’s pension benefits.

Both contributory and non-contributory widow’s pensions in Ireland are taxable. However, whether you are taxed depends on various factors, such as your total income. Because you can have other sources of income when claiming the widow’s contributory pension, you might need to pay tax on any amount that exceeds the taxable threshold. If the widow’s pension is your only source of income, however, you may not have to pay income tax. 

It can help to confirm this with the Department of Social Protection, who can give you further guidance based on your circumstances.

To apply for a widow's pension in Ireland, you typically need to fill out a widower's pension application form and send it to the Department of Social Protection. There is a separate form available for the widow’s non-contributory pension. You might also be able to apply through your local social welfare office.

You may need to provide relevant documentation, such as proof of identity, marriage or civil partnership certificates, and any other required paperwork. Be prepared to provide information about your deceased spouse or civil partner’s employment history and contributions. 

Both contributory and non-contributory widows’ pensions should be claimed within three months of the spouse or civil partner’s death, otherwise your payment may be delayed or reduced. In some cases, for example if you were unable to claim on time due to illness, your claim might be backdated for up to six months.

No, you cannot get both a widow’s pension, and the state pension at the same time. If you are entitled to both, it is generally recommended to choose the one that will give you the best income, however, you can also choose the lower amount.

If you are on the non-contributory widow’s pension and you reach 66 years of age, you may apply for the non-contributory state pension, but this will be paid instead of the widow’s pension.

As a widow in Ireland, you’re entitled to more than just the widow’s pension. If you receive the widow’s contributory pension, you may also qualify for benefits such as half-rate Maternity Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, and Carer’s Allowance. With some of these social welfare payments, you may be able to keep them if your late spouse or civil partner received them, and you’re over a certain age.

You might also be eligible for other payments, such as a pension under the Occupational Injuries Scheme, if your spouse or civil partner passed away due to work-related reasons.

If you’re receiving the non-contributory widow’s pension, you may qualify for the Fuel Allowance and, if aged 60 to 65, the Household Benefits Package. There’s also assistance available for funeral expenses and rent under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

For further information on widows’ allowances in Ireland and your individual entitlements, it might be helpful to contact your local social welfare office.

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