In the Social Welfare Act, 1994, widow's contributory pension was replaced by survivor's pension which gives widows and widowers the same contributory pension entitlement under the same conditions. The provisions came into effect on 28 October 1994.
My Department undertook an extensive advertising campaign to highlight the scheme. Advertising was conducted in the national press, radio and television and a special FREEPHONE service operated during June 1994 to deal with inquiries from widowers about the new scheme.
Information leaflets on the new scheme were made available through the Department's local offices, post offices and community information centres.
The advance publicity was aimed at ensuring that existing widowers were made aware of the new contributory pension available to them to encourage them to apply early so that as many new claims as possible were decided and ready for payment by the October 1994 commencement date. A further advertising campaign is currently being considered to reach widowers who may not be aware of their new pension entitlement.
Over 5,170 widowers now receive a survivors pension from my Department. On average, 80 new claims from widowers are received each week. Widowers also benefit under other schemes administered by my Department. Those who are not qualified for survivor's pension and who have dependent children may be entitled to receive lone parent's allowance which is subject to a means test. Others may qualify for retirement pension or old age contributory pension on the basis of their social insurance contributions when they reach age 65 and 66.
The introduction of contributory pension entitlement for widowers in 1994 addressed a significant gap in the social welfare provision for men. The introduction of the new arrangements without retrospection followed normal practice for developments in our social welfare provisions and I have no proposals to apply the provisions from an earlier date.