Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
217. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the anomaly in respect of the age at which drawdown of pensions (details supplied) occurs will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7293/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maximum rate of payment for Widow’s, Widower’s and Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension for those who are of working age (i.e. under 66) is €203.30 if they have no dependent children. This payment is not subject to a means-test, and is paid whether or not the recipient is in employment or not. Those with dependent children receive a further full rate €31.80 in respect of each qualified child. When someone reaches State pension age, the personal rate increases to €243.30, in line with the rate of the State pension (contributory). It might be remembered that someone cannot receive a double payment of both the State pension and the Widows pension, and so in most cases this ensures a Widow receives the maximum pension rate upon reaching state pension age.
At that point (i.e. reaching state pension age), they will not generally be in a position to supplement their pension with wages, as they will in most cases have retired. The same rationale would not apply to widowed people of working age, who in many cases receive both income from employment and their Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension. It is also the case that our social protection system, like most developed countries, generally provides higher rates of payment for those above pension age than for those of working age. For example, people moving from Jobseekers Allowance to State Pension (non-contributory) can expect a significant increase in their weekly rate of payment, upon reaching state pension age.
Any proposal to increase the rate of payment for widows/widowers/surviving civil partners under 66 to that of the maximum rate of the State pension (contributory) would result in a significant additional cost that would have to be met from either increased PRSI or Exchequer subvention or a reduction in the general rate of payments, and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
