John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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210. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a pension following the death of the person's spouse; and if they are entitled to other benefits. [45753/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, the person concerned or their late spouse or civil partner must have a certain number of PRSI contributions. The person concerned applied for widow(er)'s & surviving civil partner's Contributory Pension in June 2018. The application was disallowed as the minimum contributions required were not met.

Widowed persons aged under 66 with dependant children, who do not have sufficient contributions paid to qualify for the contributory pension, are eligible to apply for One Parent Family Payment. The person concerned is in receipt of this payment at the maximum rate, together with an allowance for each of their dependant children. They have also qualified for the fuel allowance which is payable during the winter months.

The person concerned was awarded a Widowed Parent Grant of €6,000 in July 2018, a once off grant for widowed parents with dependent children who are in receipt of a qualifying payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.