Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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437.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the benefits or pensions that are available to a spouse on behalf of a deceased spouse; the query relates to a person (details supplied) who was deemed entitled to invalidity pension but passed away before they could receive it. [24721/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the contribution conditions.

The spouse of the person referred to was awarded IP from 23 August 2007 which was due to go into payment from 08 November 2007. However, as he passed away on 5 November 2007, he did not receive any IP payments. Her late spouse was in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) at the time of his death and a cheque issued on 15 November 2007 for all IP arrears due from 23 August 2007 to 7 November 2007 less the IB paid in the overlapping period. The person concerned was not due a 6 weeks after death payment on her late spouse’s IP as she was not receiving a Social Welfare payment at the time of his death or was not a qualified adult on his IP or IB payments.

The person in question was awarded Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension (WCP) effective from 9 November 2007, which was from the first Friday after her late husband’s death. WCP is a contribution based payment for a widow, widower or surviving civil partner who satisfy certain social insurance conditions and do not cohabit with another person as a couple. The person concerned is in receipt of WCP at a rate equivalent to the State Pension Contributory rate from her 66th birthday and it is the appropriate Social Welfare payment for her at this time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.