Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of widow's pension payments that have been discontinued for any reason in the course of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39118/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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From 1st January 2013 to date, 35,101 widow(er) or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension claims have been stopped. 

Of these, 30,096 claims were stopped due to the death of the claimant. 

The remainder have been stopped for a variety of reasons including approximately 2,500 who moved to another payment type; approximately 1,700 who no longer met the conditions of the scheme; and approximately 500 who failed to complete and return a letter regarding their continuing eligibility for the payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.