Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1999

Vol. 508 No. 4

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Austin Deasy

Question:

60 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will devise a system whereby pensioners on the death of their spouse do not have to suffer the additional trauma of having to wait an unreasonable period for payment of their benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19041/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Provision was made in 1974 that, where a pensioner dies, the deceased person's pension continues to be paid to the surviving spouse in respect of the six week period following the death. Where entitlement exists to the six weeks after death benefits, payment is normally issued to a widow(er) within one week of receipt in my Department of notice of date of death and the deceased person's pension book. The payment is made in one cheque covering the six week period. In all over 7,000 cases are dealt with in a year and the system is operating satisfactorily.

In a high proportion of cases, the pension in payment to the deceased will have been paid by means of a pension book which may only be cashed by the pensioner. On the death of the pensioner, continued payment cannot be made on this book which must be returned for cancellation and replacement by a cheque for the six week period.

A widow or widower can return the pension book of the deceased spouse to my Department through the local post office network or the nearest local office of the Department or directly to the appropriate headquarters office of my Department.

The person may also contact their local social welfare office for advice on the documentation needed and the staff will do all they can to ensure the speedy issue of payments due.

To facilitate the transaction of this and other business at local level, continuing development of local offices is planned to ensure that people have improved access to services, better privacy facilities, better information and speedy attention to meet their needs. At the same time, ways of improving access and transacting more business by telephone are under consideration.

In many cases the surviving spouse of a deceased pensioner will have an automatic entitlement to a contributory widows/widowers pension, and in that case, payment of pension normally commences immediately after the six weeks after death payment ceases.

Where my Department is notified of the death of a qualified pensioner a claim for bereavement grant is automatically initiated by my Department. Since 2 February 1999 the bereavement grant scheme has also been significantly improved by increasing the amount payable from £100 to £500 and easing the qualifying conditions. This improvement, at the cost of £10 million a year, is of significant benefit to bereaved families.