Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 April 2026
771. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of bereaved partner's (contributory) pension that are under investigation for co-habiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29978/26]
View answer772. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of bereaved partner's (non-contributory) pension that are under investigation for co-habiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29979/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 771 and 772 together.
I propose to take Parliamentary Questions 29978/26 and 29979/26 together.
Bereaved Partner's Pension is a payment made to a widow, widower, surviving civil partner or surviving qualified cohabitant on the death of a spouse or partner.
To qualify a person must
• be a bereaved partner, that is a widow, a widower a surviving civil partner or a surviving qualified cohabitant and
• not be cohabiting with another person as a couple, and
• satisfy certain social insurance contribution conditions or
• satisfy a means test.
Where a person in receipt of Bereaved Partners Pension cohabits, remarries or enters a new civil partnership, they are no longer entitled to the payment and must notify the Department immediately. My Department carries out a review when we are notified of a change of circumstances and initiates periodic reviews of claims to confirm ongoing entitlement.
My Department does not record statistics of the number of claims under review for cohabitation. Therefore, the data requested by the Deputy is not available.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
