Bereaved Partner's Contributory Pension and Bereaved Partner's Non-Contributory Pension are, respectively, social insurance and social assistance (means-tested) payments made to a widow, widower, surviving civil partner or surviving qualified cohabitant of a deceased person.
Bereaved Partner's Contributory Pension is paid for the lifetime of the person, provided they do not cohabit with another person as a couple, marry or enter into a new civil partnership, or participate in a Community Employment Scheme.
Bereaved Partner's Non-Contributory Pension is payable until the person reaches age 66, as long as they satisfy the means test and provided they do not cohabit with another person as a couple, marry or enter into a new civil partnership. It is not payable if the person participates in a Community Employment Scheme or is a Beneficiary of Temporary Protection. Additionally, it is not payable if the person goes to live outside the State or is imprisoned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.