Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason for the delay in paying pension and payments due in respect of a deceased person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the costs incurred by this person's widow and family since their sudden death; and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this person's widow has not received payment since their spouse's death in January 2007. [15584/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Payment of Spouse's pension is dependant on submission of fully completed application form and declaration. The declaration by the person entitled to the pension is a statutory requirement under subsection 5(1) of the Appropriation Act 1962.

In the particular case referred to by the Deputy, my Department was notified of the deceased person's death on 5 February 2007. The necessary forms issued on 8 February 2007 and were not received back until 13 April 2007. Unfortunately, the Pensions Declaration Form was not signed and had to be returned to the applicant for completion. As soon as the completed document is returned to my Department an interim advance payment will issue immediately. All arrears due to the applicant will then be processed without delay.