Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme)

If an insured person dies because of an accident at work or from a disease that is related to their work, Death Benefit (under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme) may be paid to their surviving spouse, civil partner qualified cohabitant, or dependent child.

Death Benefit may also be paid if, at the time of their death, the insured person was in receipt of Disablement Benefit assessed at 50% or more, regardless of the cause of death.

The Death Benefit Scheme includes:

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

Bereaved Partner’s Pension

This is paid to the surviving spouse, civil partner or surviving qualified cohabitant of an insured person who died as a result of an accident at work, an occupational disease or who was in receipt of Disablement Pension assessed as 50% or more at the time of their death.

By partner, we mean either your husband, wife, civil partner or qualified cohabitant.

A person will be considered a qualified cohabitant for the purposes of Bereaved Partner’s Pension if the cohabiting couple have resided together in an intimate and committed relationship for a period of:

• 2 years where there are children of the relationship;
• 5 years where there are no children of the relationship;

And

• The relationship had not ended more than two years before the death of the deceased.

You cannot get the pension if you remarry, enter into a civil partnership or cohabit with another person. The pension is not affected by any income you may have. Increases for qualified children 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 Partners Contributory Pension.

Information for Qualified Cohabitants

Since 21 July 2025, surviving Qualified Cohabitants are eligible for Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension.

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

Below are details on important dates for qualified cohabitants to note:

• claims in relation to a death that occurred before 22 January 2024
• claims in relation to a death that occurred between 22 January 2024 and 20 July 2025

For a claim in relation to a death before 22 January 2024

Claims in relation to an insured deceased partner where the death occurred before 22 January 2024 are eligible for Bereaved Partner’s Pension from 22 January 2024.

For a claim in relation to a death that occurred between 22 January 2024 and 20 July 2025

Claims in relation to an insured deceased partner where the death occurred between 22 January 2024 and 20 July 2025 are eligible for Bereaved Partner’s Pension from the date of death.

In the above cases, a qualified cohabitant has 6 months from 21 July 2025 to make their application to get the payment backdated to 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 application.

Orphan's Pension

This is paid on behalf of a child if the insured 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 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 claim form OB 61, which is available below, or from your local Intreo Office or Social Welfare Branch Office.

Send your completed claim form with the relevant supporting documents to the Death Benefit Section at this address:

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

• Operational Guidelines: Death Benefit Scheme (under the Occupational Injuries Scheme)
• Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues