State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means tested payment and all income is assessable as means. This includes cash income, private pensions, foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding the claimant's own home) and the value of any investments and capital which the claimant may have.
If a pensioner is married or is living with someone as husband and wife, the means of the spouse or partner is also taken into account as well as the claimant's own means. A pensioner is obliged to declare all means, and to inform this Department of any change in his/her circumstances.
An assessment of this customer's means was made by a Social Welfare Inspector on the 22nd March 2007. Based on this assessment, a Deciding Officer found that the customer was not entitled to State Pension (Non-Contributory) as her means, arising from her spouse's Garda Pension, exceeded the statutory limit of €227.50 per week.
The customer was informed in writing of the decision on the 3rd April 2007, and of her right of appeal against it if she is not satisfied.