The Bereaved Partner's Pension — the support most people call the widow's pension

Losing your partner is hard enough without fighting a system. This guide covers Ireland's Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension — what most people still call the widow's pension — in plain English: how much it pays, who qualifies, and one big recent change: since 21 July 2025, cohabiting partners qualify for the first time. You didn't need to be married.

What is the Bereaved Partner's Pension?

A weekly payment — up to €299.30 (€309.30 from January 2027) if you're 66 or over, €259.50 (€269.50 from January 2027) under 66 — for people whose spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner has died.

It's based on PRSI contributions (yours or your late partner's), not on your income — so you can work and still receive it. It was renamed from the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, and many people (and search engines) still use the old names. Same payment.

I wasn't married to my partner — do I qualify?

Since 21 July 2025, yes — surviving cohabitants qualify if you lived together as a committed couple for 2 years (with children) or 5 years (without).

This is the change many bereaved partners don't know about. If your partner died and you were never told you could claim — or were refused in the past because you weren't married — it is worth checking now.

What are the PRSI conditions?

Either you or your late partner needs at least 260 paid contributions, plus a yearly average — an average of 48 gets the full rate, 24 gets a minimum rate.

There are in fact two ways to satisfy the second test, and the easier one is the one people are not told about. On top of the 260 paid contributions you need either:

• an average of 39 paid or credited contributions in the 3 or 5 years before the death (or before they reached 66), or
• a yearly average of at least 24 across the whole record — where 24 gives a minimum pension and 48 gives the full rate.

If a lifetime average looks hopeless because of years out of the workforce, check the 3-or-5-year route before you accept that. It only looks at the years right before the death, so a broken early record does not count against it.

The contributions can come from either of you — whichever record is better. If neither record qualifies, there's a means-tested Bereaved Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension instead, so one way or another there is usually support available.

When would I not qualify — or stop qualifying?

You can't claim if you've remarried or are living with a new partner.

The payment continues otherwise — it isn't time-limited. Extra supports can attach on top: the Fuel Allowance, the Living Alone Increase and the Household Benefits Package depending on your situation.

How do I apply?

By post — complete the application form and send it to the Department of Social Protection in Sligo, with your marriage/civil partnership cert or proof of cohabitation.

Forms are on gov.ie (search "Bereaved Partner's Contributory Pension") or from any Intreo centre. If the death was recent, also ask about the once-off Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant where there are dependent children, and check our Additional Needs Payment guide if funeral costs are causing hardship.

General information, not financial or legal advice. Rules and amounts change — confirm the current details on the official source (Gov.ie, HSE.ie or Citizens Information) before you claim.