Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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1334. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware of a case of an individual who has not been awarded the bereaved partner’s (contributory) pension and who believes this to be an error (details supplied); if he will instruct his officials to re-engage with the individual concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44738/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of an Invalidity Pension. There is a general principle of one person, one payment, which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time but, generally, they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world. Invalidity Pension and Bereaved Partner's Pension are not payable concurrently.

Persons in receipt of an Invalidity Pension are entitled to a living alone allowance if they live entirely alone, Household Benefits and the Free Travel Scheme. These secondary benefits are not available to persons in receipt of Bereaved Partner's Pension under 66 years of age.

The person concerned is receiving Invalidity Pension at the weekly maximum rate of €249.50. In addition, she is also in receipt of a living alone allowance at the weekly rate of €22.00, the telephone support allowance at the weekly rate of €2.50 and the fuel allowance at the weekly rate of €33.00. The fuel allowance is paid during the winter months. The person concerned is also in receipt of the Household Benefits Package and Free Travel.

She would only receive a basic rate of €245.70 on the Bereaved Partners Contributory Pension.

My Department also provides an additional needs payment under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place 0818 607080- which will direct callers to the appropriate offices.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.