Death Benefits under the Occupational Injuries Scheme

If a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease, Death Benefits (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme) may be paid to their partner or dependent child. Death Benefits may also be paid if, at the time of their death, the person was getting a Disablement Pension assessed at 50% or more, regardless of the cause of death.

The Death Benefits include:

• Bereaved Partner's Pension
• Orphan's Pension
• Funeral Grant

In July 2025, the Bereaved Partner’s Pension (previously called the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension) was extended to include cohabitants (cohabitating couples). If your partner died before July 2025, you may still qualify – see ‘Cohabitants and backdating the Bereaved Partner’s Pension’ below.

A cohabiting couple is a couple that lives together in an intimate and committed relationship, who are not married to each other and not in a civil partnership. To qualify, a cohabitating couple must be living together for at least 5 years (or 2 years if you have dependent children together).

Budget 2026

In January 2026, the weekly rate of Bereaved Partner’s Pension and the Orphan's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme will increase by €10.

In January 2026, the Child Support Payment will increase:

• By €8, from €50 to €58, for children under 12 years of age
• By €16, from €62 to €78, for children aged 12 years and over

Bereaved Partner's Pension

This is paid to the partner of a person who died as a result of an accident at work, an occupational disease or who was getting a Disablement Pension assessed as 50% or more at the time of their death.

To qualify for the Bereaved Partner’s Pension, you must be a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the deceased. If you are a cohabitant, you must be cohabiting for at least 5 years (or 2 years if you have dependent children together)

If you re-marry or start to cohabit, your Bereaved Partner’s Pension will no longer be payable.

The pension is not affected by any income you may have.

Increases for qualified children (now called Child Support Payments) are paid with the pension. The pension is taxable.

A Bereaved Partner's Pension under the Death Benefit scheme cannot be paid at the same time as a Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension.

Orphan's Pension

This is paid on behalf of a child if the parent, step-parent or person who supported the child died as a result of an accident at work, an occupational disease or was getting a Disablement Pension assessed as 50% or more at the time of their death.

The orphan's guardian should apply for the payment.

Funeral Grant

If the deceased person meets the conditions a special Funeral Grant can be paid to the person who pays for the funeral expenses. A Funeral Grant is not taxable.

Payments under the Death Benefit scheme are paid at higher rates than a standard Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension or a Guardian's payment.

A claim for any of the payments under the Death Benefit scheme should be made within 3 months of the date of death, otherwise you may lose some benefit.

Complete a Death Benefit under OIB form which is available from your local social welfare office. Send your completed claim form to the Death Benefit Section at the address below.

In July 2025, the Bereaved Partner’s Pension was extended to include cohabitants (cohabitating couples). If your partner died before July 2025, you may still qualify.

If your partner died before 22 January 2024 and you qualify for the Bereaved Partner’s Pension, your payment will be backdated to 22 January 2024. If your partner died on or after 22 January 2024 and you are eligible for the Bereaved Partner’s Pension, it will be backdated to the date of death.

You have 6 months from 21 July 2025 to apply and get the payment backdated to the 22 January 2024 or date of death, if later. If the application is not made within this period, then the maximum backdating of the payment will be 6 months from the date of your application.