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 260 paid PRSI contributions paid before the relevant date*; and either
- an average of 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited contributions over the 3 or 5 tax years before the spouse died or reached pension age (66); 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.
*The relevant date is the earliest of the following dates:
- The date your spouse or civil partner died
- Your spouse’s or civil partner’s 66th birthday, if their social insurance record is used
- Your 66th birthday, if your social insurance record is used
If your spouse or civil partner died before 27 December 2013, only 156 paid contributions are required. However, the yearly average condition must still be satisfied.
When and how to apply
Application for a Widow’s or Widower’s (Contributory) Pension should be made to:
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension), Department of Social Protection, Pensions Services Offices, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384, Ireland.
Tel: (071) 915 7100 or 0818 200 400
Homepage: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/apply-for-widowers-contributory-pension/
Email: widows.con@welfare.ie
Page updated 25 July 2024
