A client got in touch as she had received forms from the UK International Pension Centre (IPC) and was unsure what these pertained to.

Her husband passed away a year ago and both her children are still in full-time non-advanced education. They live in the Republic of Ireland (ROI)and the client has always been self-employed there.

Her husband was from Northern Ireland and whilst they lived in a border area in ROI, he continued self-employment in the North, paying tax and national insurance contributions here.

The client explained that she receives the Widow’s Contributory Pension from ROI based and was also paid the Widow’s grant based on her own PRSI contributions.

The forms she received from IPC reference employment/residence history of the client and her late husband and whether the client has an ongoing Child Benefit claim.

It was explained that there is a Bereavement Support Payment payable from the UK which would be based on her husband’s NI contributions. There is a higher rate payable for claimant’s with dependent children. A lump sum is payable and 18 monthly payments thereafter. As it is a contributions-based benefit it is exportable to another jurisdiction such as Ireland.

We assisted the client to complete the forms and await the outcome. She subsequently got in touch to confirm that she had received an award of Bereavement Support Payment from the UK.

See also

UK Gov – Claiming benefits if you live, move or travel abroad

Border People – FAQs Bereavement 

NI Direct –  Bereavement Support Payment

Page last checked: June 2023