Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

To qualify for widow's, widower's and surviving civil partner's pension, the spouse or civil partner must have made 156 contributions by the date of death or before reaching 66 years of age, whichever is the earlier, and have an average of 39 paid or credited contributions in either the three or five years before the death of the spouse or civil partner or before reaching 66 years of age, or an average annual figure of at least 24 paid or credited contributions from the year of first entry into insurance until the year of death or before reaching pension age. If this average is used, it will give an entitlement to receive a minimum pension. An average of 48 contributions per year is required before one receive the maximum pension.