The actual pay out depends on the rules of your particular plan. It is usual for a defined benefit plans to provide some sort of benefit in the event of your death in retirement. This may include
A widow/widower’s or dependent’s pension, usually a percentage of your salary
A guaranteed minimum payment period, typically 5 years.
The actual pay-out depends on the rules of your particular plan. It is usual for defined benefit (link to section on defined benefit) plans to provide some sort of benefit in the event of your death in retirement. This may include
- A widow/widower’s or dependent’s pension, usually a percentage of your salary
- A guaranteed minimum payment period, typically 5 years.
State widow or widower pension
Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension is a weekly payment to the husband or wife of a deceased person. Either you or your deceased spouse must have enough social insurance contributions (PRSI).
To qualify you must be a widow or widower and you must not be living with another person as man and wife. If you are divorced and you would have been entitled to a Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension had you remained married, you keep your entitlement to the Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension.
The pension is payable regardless of other income.
Rules
You may automatically qualify for a Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension if your late spouse was getting either a State Pension (Transition) or State Pension (Contributory), which included an increase for a dependent spouse (or would have included an increase but for the fact that you were getting State Pension (Non-Contributory), Blind Pension or Carer's Allowance).
If you are not in this situation, then you must have enough PRSI contributions.
Useful links
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/death-related-benefits/widows_contrib_pension/#introduction
