Widows pension..contributory or non contributory??

gymlover

My father, who was a farmer, passed away recently and we are trying to get ourselves organised with all the paperwork that comes with such an event.

My mother was with a new accountant recently and he said she's only qualify for a non-contributory pension..(This was her initial meeting with him) My mother is in her 50's and a civil servant who has paid PRSI all her life. She also has twp dependant children, in college. Could someone please explain why she qualifies for a non-contributory pension??

okiss

Sorry about your father passing away. I know that it can take time to sort things out with the paperwork
Could someone please explain why she qualifies for a non-contributory pension?
The reason that she may only qualify for a non-contributory pension is that she has not the required number of stamps (prsi payments) over a certain time period but if your father paid prsi she may be able to claim for a contributory pension as he could have paid more stamps than she has.
If you look up www.welfare.ie and look under recently bereaved you will get more information. She may be entitled to a Bereavement Grant.
I would advise your mother to ring the tax office, explain that you father his died and that she is currently sorting out things as a result of this. Ask the tax office what would they need from her so that she can find out his prsi payments ect. I would also get her to call into the local social welfare office and explain that your father has died and that she is currently working but that she wants to know what she is due as she is supporting 2 children who are still in college.
Perhaps she could apply for family income supplement - if her income is under a certain amount and she has dependents it could give her the extra income she needs at the moment.

mrsbyrne

Sorry about your dad.
Your mum is almost certainly entitled to a Widows Contributory Pension.If your dad was a working farmer then he was paying a PRSI contribution. If he was a retired farmer then either he was on the Farm Retirement Scheme or State Pension, depending on his age. Either way your mam will get a Widows Contributory Pension. This is not means tested, so will not be affected by any wages or other income she may have,but will be taken into consideration for tax purposes. Accountants, In my extensive experience, though i'm sure they mean well, are clueless when it comes to SW.
If your mam has dependent children she will be entitled to the Widowed Parent Grant (euro 6000).
She is also entitled to the Bereavment Grant (euro850).
All three application forms are available online, or better still at your local CIC, where you can get help to complete them and other advice.
The tax office will not be able to help you on any matters relating to SW.

phoenix999

Social welfare can check the prsi contributions of your late father and your mother and decide her eligibility. The minimum contributions are listed on the website (www.welfare.ie).

gymlover

Thanks for all your replies. After hours of research, its nice to get information in a clear way.

My mother is a civil servant of 38 years so does seem highly unlikely she wouldnt have made the required contributions.

mrsbyrne

gymlover wrote: »

Thanks for all your replies. After hours of research, its nice to get information in a clear way.

My mother is a civil servant of 38 years so does seem highly unlikely she wouldnt have made the required contributions.

Contributory widows pension can be awarded based on the PRSI contributions of either spouse.See below:
Social insurance contributions (PRSI)
To qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, either you or your late spouse or civil partner must have a certain number of PRSI contributions. All the PRSI requirements must be met on one person's record - you may not combine the contributions of both spouses or civil partners. All must have been made before the death of the spouse or civil partner.

Virtually all PRSI contributions count towards this pension, including contributions paid by public servants and the self-employed.

Either you or your spouse or civil partner must have:

At least 156 paid contributions paid to the date your spouse/civil partner died or before your 66th birthday, whichever is earlier. (From 27 December 2013 you or your spouse must have at least 260 paid contributions.)
And

An average of 39 paid or credited contributions in either the 3 or 5 years before the death of the spouse/civil partner or before he/she reached pension age (66)
Or

A yearly average of at least 24 paid or credited contributions from the year of first entry into insurance until the year of death or reaching pension age. If this average is used then an average of 24 will entitle you to a minimum pension, you will need an average of 48 per year to get the full pension.
I am quite certain that your father will have contributed sufficent PRSI of the correct type. Your mothers 38 years of D contributions are also more than sufficient to qualify her as well.Its very simple, you dont need the accountant to complete the form. Im sure you and she can find a quiet moment to fill it up and send it away.
She will receive euro193.50 for herself and euro29.80 for each child under 22 and still in full time education.
here are the forms:
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/wcp1.pdf
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/bg1.pdf
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Forms/Documents/wpg1.pdf

carjaliu madalina

can you tell my how can i apply for pension ,for my mum .she was moved from romania 6 month ago and she live with me.

mp22

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/older_and_retired_people/state_pension_non_contributory.html

Debthree

OP,

I'd be very surprised if your mother was turned down for the Widows Contributory Pension but I will say it is torture waiting to hear back about it. My husband passed away in January and I applied for the pension in mid February. It was awarded to me in late April. However, the staff in my local SW office (Hanover Street, Cork) very kindly checked my (and my husband's) PRSI contributions for me so put my mind at ease that I satisfied the criteria. The pension will be backdated.

As already mentioned, if your siblings (or even 1 of them) is under 21 your mother will be entitled to the one off payment of 6000 euro grant along with the bereavement grant of 850. I have 3 dependant children so the 6000 was a huge huge help to me.

If she's struggling in the meantime her local Community Welfare Officer can pay her the Pension amount weekly and it would then be taken back out of the back payment when it comes through.

Sica

If OP's mother was a civil servant recruited before 1995, wouldn't that mean she was paying the lower class of PRSI stamp and therefore not attract an entitlement to a contributory pension?

Debthree

Sica, the Widow's Contributory Pension accepts the civil servant class of PRSI (both before and after 1995).