Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2024
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the entitlement, if any, to rent a room in any way inhibited the entitlement to widow’s pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11479/24]
View answerWidow(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension is a social insurance based payment and is not means tested.
To qualify for this pension, a person must:
• be a widow, widower or surviving civil partner;
• satisfy certain social insurance conditions; and
• not cohabit with another person as a couple.
The person's application for Widow(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension was initially disallowed because it was deemed she was cohabiting with another person who was registered at her address. One of the criteria for this pension is that a person cannot cohabit.
My Department subsequently received confirmation from the person concerned that the person who had been residing with her had moved to a new address, with effect from 28/09/2023. Consequently, the person concerned was awarded Widow(er)'s & Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension with effect from 29/09/2023.
A person in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment can rent a room, for up to €14,000 per annum, without their social welfare payment being impacted. As widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's contributory pension is not means tested and any income from rent a room is not assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
