Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025

Entitlement to pension

13. The Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following section for section 163:

“163. (1) Subject to this Act, a pension shall be payable to a bereaved partner who has not attained pensionable age.

(2) A pension shall cease as and from—

(a) the date of marriage or remarriage of the beneficiary,

(b) the date of entry by the beneficiary into a civil partnership or a new civil partnership, or

(c) the date on which the beneficiary becomes a qualified cohabitant or again becomes a qualified cohabitant.

(3) A person shall not be entitled to a pension under this section unless he or she is habitually resident in the State.

(4) A person whose claim is based on being a surviving qualified cohabitant shall be entitled to a pension under this section on the death, on or after the passing of the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner’s Pension and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2025, of his or her qualified cohabitant.”.