Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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1823. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when it will be possible for qualified cohabitants to apply for a bereaved partner’s pension, given that the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025 has now been signed into law by the President; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42318/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025 was enacted on 21 July 2025. The provisions of the Act commenced from that date.

I am very pleased that as a result of this landmark legislation that surviving qualified cohabitants can now access the Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension, the Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, the Bereaved Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension and the Bereaved Parent's Grant.

My Department has begun processing claims and is currently writing to those who submitted a claim following the Supreme Court decision in January 2024 seeking any additional information that may be necessary to process their claim. For anyone who has not submitted a claim, they should do so now, claim forms are available to download from: assets.gov.ie/static/documents/20250722_Bereaved_Partners_Pension_-_BPP1_-_English_Version_-_July2025-Final.pdf

For any surviving qualified cohabitant who experienced a bereavement before 21 July 2025, they have six months to claim a Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension and if eligible, the payment will be backdated to the 22 January 2024 or the date of death, whichever is later.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.