Garda Siochana Retired Members' - Association Widows Entitlements

Garda Siochana Retired Members'

                          Association

                 Widows Entitlements

8 Harrington Street,
Dublin 8.
Tel: 01 478 1525
Fax: 01 478 1527
Email: gardaretired@eircom.net

As amended January 2012

Widows Benefits

In this handout we are providing some primary information to assist the widows of
our members in obtaining whatever entitlements and benefits they are likely to qualify
for in the unwelcome event of bereavement. The information is intended merely as a
handy first step reference.

                                Bereavement Grants

1.   Garda Siochana Benevolent Trust Fund Ltd, Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7
      (Telephone 01 830 7155). Currently a grant of €3000 is available if you qualify.

2.   Mr Gerry O'Neill (Secretary) D.M.A. Garda Catholic Obsequies Society, Garda
      Club, 9 Harrington Street, Dublin 8. (Telephone Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station
      01 666 8483) Currently a grant of €1,000 is available if you qualify.

3.    St Raphael's Garda Credit Union Ltd, 1-2 Fox & Geese, Naas Road, Dublin 22
      (Telephone 0818 247 365),
      St Paul's Garda Credit Union, Boreenmanna Road, Cork (Telephone 021-
      4313355).
Credit Union rules provide for the following in the event of the death of a member.
•     All outstanding loans are effectively waived as they are insured up to a limit of
      circa €40,000.
•     Money on deposit (i.e. Shares) before age of 55 years is double up to a limit of
      €12,700, the excess will be entered into probate.
      Between 55 years and 60 years - 75% of the limit will be repayable
      Between 60 years and 65 years - 50% of the limit will be repayable
      Between 65 years and 70 years - 25% of the limit will be repayable
      There is no insurance for loans beyond 70 years of age.
•     In addition St Raphael's pay a death grant of €2,500.

4. (a) Bereavement Grant Section Government Buildings Ballinalee Road, Longford
   (Telephone 043 45211).
   A grant of €635 is available to widows based on their late husbands modified
   P.R.S.I contributions (e.g. B and C contributions) in service
                       Or
   (b) C.P./R.P. Section,      Pension    Services   Office,   Department of Social
   Community and Family Affairs, College Road, Sligo (telephone Sligo 071-
   9148351/9169800).
   A grant of €635 is available to those widows who are eligible based on their late
   husband's contributory Social Welfare pension. The claim form, available from
   Post Offices should, when completed be returned to the above office accompanied
   by the widows pension book and copies of certificates of birth, marriage and
   death.
Note: Only one grant from a Social Welfare source will be payable to a qualifying
       widow.

                                  Life Insurance Cover

If a widow's late spouse was at some time a member of one of the Staff Association's
representing Garda personnel he may have paid into a group scheme which allows for
the payment of a lump sum to the dependents of a member who dies before his 65n
birthday.   Each member of the force who is a member of the scheme pays a
subscription, deducted from salary at source and the vast majority of members of each
rank are in the schemes.

Enquires to (i) GRA., Floor 5, Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7 (Telephone 01 8303533)
             (ii) LifeWise: Neil Walsh, 17 Herbert Place, Dublin 2 (Telephone 01-
             639 5881) Agents for the former Garda Federation.

                                  Widows' Pension

The area of pension entitlement can be very complex and therefore to avoid ambiguity
only the main points of interest relative to widow entitlement are outlined here.

Garda Widows' Pension

A pension from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform termed a basic
widows' pension will be payable to a qualifying widow under the Garda Siochdna
Spouses and Children Scheme. The rate is one half of her late spouse's pension.
                                         And
She is eligible to receive the Social Welfare contributory widows' pension (survivors'
pension) which has to be applied for at her local post office. The pension is based on
the modified PRSI contributions paid by her late husband in service. On retirement
the member should, if he doesn't take up insurable employment or pay voluntary
contributions, 'sign on' and keep his Social Welfare record up to date until he reaches
66 years in order to ensure his widow (and himself) will qualify for the survivors'
pension based on his modified contributions in service - the importance of this cannot
be stressed strongly enough.
                                          Or
If the member was a pre April 1st 1974 retiree i.e. before public servants began paying
PRSI, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform under Paragraph 15 (3) of
the 1981 Pensions Order will pay his qualifying widow and survivors' pension.
                                          Or
If a member retired after April 1st 1974 but before he had sufficient modified
contributions paid to enable his widow to qualify for a survivor's pension, the
Minister (Justice, Equality and Law Reform) may under Paragraph 15 (4) of the 1981
Pensions' Order grant a pension equivalent to the difference between the benefit for
which the widow would qualify under her late spouse's modified contributions and
the maximum rate of survivors' benefit - in order words a top up Social Welfare
pension in addition to the benefit paid by Social Welfare.
                                          Or
A widow who was in insurable employment may be entitled to a Social Welfare
pension in her own right provided she made the appropriate contributions to qualify
for a maximum benefit Old Age Contributory Pension. While it is Social Welfare
policy not to grant two Social Welfare pensions to the same person, nonetheless the
Minister (Justice, Equality and Law Reform) may award an additional pension (i.e.
survivors) without infringing on Social Welfare policy, under Paragraph 15 (5) of the
1981 Pensions' Order.

Enquiries from : -
•     The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Pensions Section,
     Killarney, Co. Kerry. (Telephone 064 34400 or 01 602 8202)
•     The Department of Social Community and Family Affairs, Pensions Services
      Section, College Road, Sligo. (Tel: 071 914 835/916 9800 or 1 890 50 00 00)

       What Steps should a widow take to obtain her pension entitlements?
•     Obtain a Death Certificate (medical certificates as to the cause of death are not
      acceptable) and a number of certified copies (photocopies are not acceptable).
      These will not go to waste as they will be required in a number of instances not
      least being the solicitor dealing with legal probate.
•     Go to the local Garda Station with the following documents,
      i.     Birth Certificate (widows)
      ii.    Death Certificate (Original)
      iii.   Marriage Certificate
      iv.    Birth Certificates (long format) of her children between the ages of 16 and
             22 — she can apply for a pension equivalent to /s of her pension;
             automatically in the case of children under 16 years, or between the ages
             of 16 and 22 if in full time education; subject to a maximum of 3 children.
•     Go to the local post office and apply for a survivors Pension.
    Note: - The late spouse should in this regard, if he was a post 1st April 1974 retiree
    have maintained his entitlement for the widows/widowers i.e. survivors' pension
    after retiring from the Garda Siochana by working in insurable employment,
    paying voluntary contributions or signing on.
•   Contact the Information Services of the Department of Social Community and
    Family Affairs for advice and guidance (telephone 01 704 3000)
•   Contact our office the GSRMA., 8 Harrington Street, Dublin 8 (telephone 01 478
    1525, fax: 01 478 1527, email gardaretired@eircom.net.