Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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681. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the Widow and Widowers’ pension. [42039/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 123,358 recipients of Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension and there are 1,242 recipients of Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non Contributory Pension.

Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension is a social insurance based payment made on the death of a spouse or civil partner. It is not means-tested so entitlement is not affected by other income a person may have such as earnings, savings or an occupational pension.

Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non Contributory Pension is for those who do no qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Civil Partner's Contributory Pension. This payment is a residency based means tested assistance payment. All income and earnings, including pensions, capital and property, excluding a person’s own home, is assessable as means.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.