The Spouses and Children’s Pension Scheme provides for an income for your spouse and/or children should you predecease them.
The scheme was originally introduced in 1969 for men only. In 1981 the scheme opened to women, some teachers in service chose not to join at this time. The scheme became compulsory for all women who commenced teaching since 1 November 1981. A revised Spouses and Children’s Pension scheme was introduced in 2005, membership is compulsory for all new entrants from that date. Teachers who had originally opted out were given the chance to join the revised scheme at this time. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Spouses and Children’s Pensions Scheme cost me?
What are the benefits of the Spouses and Children’s Pension Scheme?
- The spouse of a teacher who dies before retirement will receive a pension equal to one-half of the deceased teacher’s maximum potential pension.
- The spouse of a retired teacher will receive one-half of the retired teacher’s pension.
- Where children are left as well as a spouse, an amount equal to 1/3rd of the spouse’s pension will be payable for each child up to a maximum of three
children. This covers children up to age 16, or the age of 21 if in full time education, there is no age-limit for a child who is permanently incapacitated. - Provision is also made for the payment of a pension to eligible children in the event that a teacher is not survived by a spouse.
Will I receive a refund of my contributions if I am single without children at retirement?
Members of the original schemes who are widowed/divorced may receive a refund of contributions on retirement. This refund is for contributions from the date of divorce or death.
Any refund is automatic on retirement, it cannot be recouped before then, nor can you stop payments to this beforehand. If you remarry before retirement your new spouse would see the benefit if you were to predecease them in service or in retirement.
I am a member of the Revised scheme introduced in 2004/2005. Will I get a refund of my contributions at retirement?
It is not possible to transfer the benefits to other family members.
I did not or do not recall joining the Revised Scheme in 2004/2005, can I join this scheme now?
There is a limited appeals mechanism with three criteria under which an appeal may be made. These include:
- where there is no evidence that an option was provided to the individual teacher in the first place
- where there is medical evidence to indicate that the teacher making the decision not to join the scheme was of sufficiently unsound mind not to appreciate the consequences of their decision
- where a member of the original scheme declined to join the revised scheme in circumstances where there would have been no reasonably foreseeable adverse financial consequences for the teacher (in terms only of their scheme contributions) had they instead opted to join the revised scheme.
For each of the appeal grounds, evidence will be required to be presented.
If the appeal is successful, you will be given the option of joining the Revised Scheme subject to the payment of any contributions owed.
Further information on the criteria are contained in DPER Circular 23/2022: Limited Appeals Process for option to join Public Service Spouses’ and Children’s Contributory Pension Schemes.
Could I owe contributions to the Spouses and Children’s Pension Scheme?
Where can I find more information about the scheme?
Revision of the Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme May 2005
For further information See Chapter 27 of the Primary School Teachers Pension Scheme Handbook
or
Spouses’ and Children’s Pension Scheme (publicservicepensions.gov.ie)