Q.  A neighbour’s mother died recently. She was getting an Invalidity Pension and my neighbour believes he can continue to collect the pension for 6 weeks. Is this right?

18.08.09

This is a common misunderstanding. The only person who could claim the six weeks’ payment after the death of the pensioner would be the spouse or partner of the deceased person, and then only if the deceased person had been getting a payment (Increase for a Qualified Adult) for the partner or spouse.

If there is a spouse or partner in this position, they should contact the appropriate section within the Department of Social and Family Affairs as soon as possible following the death. They should enclose the death certificate (if available) or a death notice from a newspaper with the application, as well as the payment book(s) or any related cheque(s). They should not cash any existing cheques or vouchers from the pension book. The Department will then issue a cheque for the amount of the six weeks’ payment. However, if your neighbour was getting Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Benefit in respect of his mother, he will continue to get this payment for 6 weeks after her death. He will have to notify the Carer’s section of the death. The address for Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit is: Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford.
 

Citizens Information: Buncrana 074 9363496; Carndonagh 074 9373741

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