Social Welfare Act, 2000

PART IV

Widowed Parent Grant

Widowed parent grant.

13.—The Principal Act is amended by the insertion after Chapter 19 of Part II of the following Chapter:

“Chapter 19A

Widowed Parent Grant

116A.—(1) Subject to this Act, a grant (in this section referred to as a ‘widowed parent grant’) of £1,000, or such higher amount as may be prescribed, shall be paid to a widowed parent on the death of his or her spouse.

(2) In this Chapter—

‘spouse’ includes a party to a marriage that has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State and in relation to a widow or widower who has been married more than once, refers only to the widow's or widower's last spouse;

‘widow’ includes a woman who would otherwise be a widow but for the fact that her marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State;

‘widowed parent’ means a widow or widower who—

(a) has at least one qualified child who normally resides with him or her, and

(b) (i) is entitled to or in receipt of bereavement grant, or

(ii) is entitled to or in receipt of—

(I) death benefit under section 60, or

(II) widow's (contributory) pension, or

(III) widower's (contributory) pension, or

(IV) widow's or widower's (contributory) pension by virtue Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971¹ or by virtue of a reciprocal agreement under section 238, or

(V) one-parent family payment,

which includes an increase in respect of a qualified child;

‘widower’ includes a man who would otherwise be a widower but for the fact that his marriage has been dissolved, being a dissolution that is recognised as valid in the State.”.

¹ O.J. No. L149, 5.7.1971, p2