What the State may pay a surviving spouse, partner or family, what stops, and how to apply. The Department of Social Protection decides every one of these.
Every payment the person was getting in their own right stops on the date of death: State pension, Jobseeker's, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Carer's Allowance, Fuel Allowance and the rest. Tell the Department as soon as you can; money paid after the death is repayable from the estate. How to tell the Department of Social Protection.
If the person was a carer for someone who has died, Carer's Allowance or Benefit continues for twelve weeks after the death.
Where the deceased was getting a payment that included an increase for a spouse or partner, or both of them were on certain payments, the Department pays the deceased's payment for six weeks after the death to the survivor. It also applies where a carer or the person being cared for dies. It is paid once the Department knows of the death; if it has not arrived within a few weeks, ring and ask.
A weekly pension for the survivor, for life or until remarriage or a new cohabitation.
Apply within three months of the death where you can. The weekly rate is set in each Budget and is higher for those over 66; an increase is paid for each dependent child. Since 2025 the scheme also covers a surviving qualified cohabitant who meets the conditions, following a Supreme Court ruling; ask the Department whether you qualify.
A once-off payment of €8,000 to a surviving spouse or civil partner who has one or more dependent children, or whose child is born within ten months of the death. Apply within twelve months. It is paid on top of the pension above.
Guardian's Payment is paid to the person caring for an orphaned child, contributory or non-contributory. Child Benefit continues to whoever now cares for the child. A surviving parent may qualify for One-Parent Family Payment if they are not getting the widow's pension.
Where the death was caused by an accident at work or a prescribed occupational disease, Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries scheme pays a weekly pension to the surviving spouse or partner, allowances for children, and a funeral grant. It is paid instead of, not as well as, the widow's pension, at a higher rate.
There is no longer a general bereavement grant (it ended in 2014). Where the family cannot meet the cost, the Additional Needs Payment from the Community Welfare Service can help. Help with the cost of the funeral.
Online at MyWelfare.ie, by post, or at the local Intreo centre. Have the death certificate (the free one marked for social welfare purposes is enough), both PPS numbers, the marriage or civil partnership certificate, and bank details for payment. Citizens Information centres will help with the forms at no charge.
Written and checked on 3 November 2026 against the published rules of the organisations named. Rules, rates and forms change, so check with the organisation before relying on any figure. LegacySteps is independent: it is not the HSE, the Department of Social Protection, a bank, an insurer or a credit union, and nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice.