Widow(er)'s non-contributory pension is a means-tested assistance payment and as such all income, including income from other pensions, both Irish and foreign, is assessable as means. Where the means of a non-contributory pensioner increase for any reason, s/he is obliged to inform my Department, so that the rate of pension payable may be adjusted, if necessary.
As part of its ongoing programme of control measures, the Department periodically reviews the means of those in receipt of assistance payments, including non-contributory pensioners.
In 1998 the means of a total 665 widow(er) non-contributory pensioners were reviewed. As a result of these reviews, 306 had pensions increased while 319 pensioners had their pension entitlement reduced.