Bereaved Parent Grant

Learn more about Budget 2025 measures.

The Bereaved Parent Grant is a one off payment to widows, widowers, surviving civil partners or surviving qualified cohabitants with dependent children.

Since 21 July 2025, surviving Qualified Cohabitants are eligible for Bereaved Parent Grant.

A person will be considered a qualified cohabitant for the purpose of the payment if the cohabiting couple lived together as a couple in an intimate and committed relationship for a period of:

• two years where there are children of the relationship or
• five years where there are no children of the relationship.

This grant is for widows, widowers, surviving civil partners or surviving qualified cohabitants who have one or more dependent children living with them at the date of death or a child born within 10 months of the date of death of their late spouse or partner.

For the purpose of the grant, the "child" is a child up to age 18, who is normally lives in the State and who is living with you.

A child aged 18 to 22 who normally lives in the State is a qualified child once they are in full-time education at a recognised school or college.

You must also qualify for one of the following:

• Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
• State Pension (Non-contributory)
• State Pension (Contributory)

which includes an increase in respect of a qualified child.

Surviving qualified cohabitants will only qualify for Bereaved Parent Grant if their partner’s death occurred on or after 21 July 2025.

This grant is a one-off payment of €8,000.

Payment of the Bereaved Parent Grant is made by direct payment into your current or deposit (savings) account in your selected financial institution.

You do not need to complete an application form if you are applying for Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension

You can only apply for this payment by post. To apply, fill in the form below and send to:

Bereaved Parent Grant,

Department of Social Protection,

College Road, Sligo, F91 T384

Please use Black Ink and complete all questions using BLOCK LETTERS.

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

Operational Guidelines: Bereaved Parent Grant