Widow's or Widower's (Contributory) Pension

Class D and Class A

How to qualify

If you are a widow or a widower you can apply for a Widow's or Widower's (Contributory) Pension, based on either your own or your late spouse's PRSI contributions. This pension is not affected by any income you may have or by any pension you may have under your late spouse's occupational pension scheme (e.g. Department of Education Pension).

PRSI contribution conditions

Whichever contribution record is used that record must have:

• at least 156 weeks PRSI paid to the date your spouse died; and either
• an average of 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited over the 3 or 5 tax years before the spouse died or reached pension age; or
• for a minimum pension a yearly average of at least 24 weeks PRSI paid or credited is needed since starting work up to the end of the tax year before the spouse died or reached pension age. For a maximum pension a yearly average of 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited is required.
  

When and how to apply

Application for a Widow's or Widower's (Contributory) Pension should be made within 3 months of the spouse's death to: Widow's and Widower's Contributory Pension Section, Department of Social and Family Affairs, Pension Services Office, College Road, Sligo.  Tel. (091) 35200, (01) 874 8444, LoCall 1890 500 00044.