Vol. 519 No. 4
128 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 556 of 10 May 2000, he will outline the procedure regarding the duly completed declaration made before a peace commissioner, as outlined in the reply. [13956/00]
When a family member notifies my Department of the death of a pensioner, my Department requests the supply of the original death certificate for noting and, at the same time, notifies the family member of the amount of pension outstanding and, where the amount does not exceed £6,000, supplies the family member with a form of declaration. The family member is advised to have the form of declaration completed if it is not intended to take out probate or letters of administration. The declaration must be made before a peace commissioner, a notary public, a commissioner for oaths or a person authorised by law to receive and take statutory declarations.
The claimant must list on the form of declaration the names, addresses, ages and relationship of the survivors of the deceased. Where the claimant is a son, daughter, brother or sister of the deceased and has other brothers or sisters living in this country, their written consent to the payment of money due to the claimant must accompany the declaration.
I should add that it is only in exceptional cases that the balance of pension due to the estate of a deceased pensioner will exceed £6,000.
