James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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269. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a case in which the estate of a deceased person cannot claim uncollected disability allowance payments in view of the fact that the deceased was predeceased by their partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14325/19]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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No details of the case have been provided to my Department regarding this issue, and accordingly, only a general response can be provided. There are normally two sets of circumstances in which payments may be made to the next of kin after the death of a person. These are:

1. Where there are uncollected post office payments.

and

2. Where there is an entitlement to six weeks' payment after death (continued payment) to be paid to a ‘related person’ of the deceased.

In relation to the first of these, the following are the general procedures applied when payment of any amount due is made.

Where a will is in place, any uncollected payments due may be paid to or among such persons appearing to be beneficially entitled under the will of the deceased as the Department thinks proper. In such circumstances any payment due would be paid to the Executor of the deceased's estate. Where a will is not in place, any arrears due may be paid to whoever appears to be beneficially entitled. In general, this means that the arrears are paid to whoever has discharged the funeral expenses.

Further advice with regards to arrangements around a specific can be provided by contacting the Disability Allowance section within the department (contact details are available on the departments web site at or by making contact with staff in the departments local Intreo or branch office.