New legislation is being brought before Cabinet this morning to extend the rights of co-habiting partners to access widow’s pensions.
It follows a Supreme Court ruling that the withholding of a widower’s contributory pension was unconstitutional in a case taken by father of three Johnny O’Meara from Toomevara.
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Under the planned laws the eligibility for a number of widowed pensions will be extended to coinhabiting couples where they have been together for more than five years – or more than two years where the couple has a child together.
The entitlement will cease if the couple gets divorced or begins a new relationship or cohabitation.
It’s expected the changes to the scheme will cost the state in the region of €50 million extra per year.
