Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant 2026 — €6,000 once-off payment for widowed parents with children
Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant Ireland 2026
When a spouse or civil partner dies and you have dependent children, you are entitled to a once-off grant of €6,000 from the Department of Social Protection. This is in addition to any ongoing weekly pension you receive. The grant is not means-tested, is tax-free, and is paid as a lump sum to help with the immediate financial impact of bereavement. Many people who qualify are not aware of it.
Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant — At a glance
- Amount
- €6,000 once-off lump sum
- Means test
- No — paid regardless of income
- Tax status
- Tax-free
- Key requirement
- Must have at least one dependent child
- Paid alongside
- Weekly Widow's/Surviving CP Pension (separate)
- Apply via
- Form WCP1 — Intreo or downloaded from gov.ie
How this grant fits with the Widow's Pension
The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant is a once-off lump sum. The Widow's or Surviving Civil Partner's Pension is an ongoing weekly payment. They are entirely separate — and you can receive both if you qualify for both:
| Widow's Pension | Widowed Parent Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Weekly payment | Once-off lump sum |
| Amount (2026) | €242.50–€275.30/week (Contributory) | €6,000 |
| Requires children? | No — paid whether or not you have children | Yes — must have at least one qualified child |
| Means test | No (Contributory) / Yes (Non-Contributory) | No |
| PRSI required | Yes (Contributory) / No (Non-Contributory) | Yes — based on deceased's contributions |
| Duration | Until death or remarriage | Paid once |
Who counts as a qualified child
A qualified child for the purpose of this grant is:
- A child under 18 years of age
- A child aged 18–22 who is in full-time education (school or college)
- The child can be your biological child, legally adopted child, or a child ordinarily resident with you who you are supporting
You only need one qualifying child — the grant is €6,000 regardless of the number of children you have.
What documents you need
- Your own PPS number (and ideally the deceased's PPS number)
- Death certificate of your spouse or civil partner
- Marriage certificate or civil partnership registration document
- Birth certificates for your dependent children
- Proof of children's full-time education (if aged 18–22)
- Completed Form WCP1 (Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner Pension application)
How to apply — step by step
- Get Form WCP1
Download Form WCP1 from gov.ie or collect it from your local Intreo Centre or DSP office. The same form is used to apply for both the Widow's/Surviving CP Pension and the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant.
- Complete and submit the form
Fill in all sections, including details of your children. Attach the required documents (death cert, marriage cert, child birth certs). Submit to your local Intreo office or post to DSP's bereavement team.
- DSP processes and pays
DSP assesses both the weekly pension and the lump sum grant simultaneously. Processing time is typically 4–8 weeks. The €6,000 grant is issued as a single bank payment once approved.
Can you claim if the bereavement happened years ago?
Yes, if you were widowed in the past and had dependent children at the time but never claimed this grant, you can back-claim. Apply to DSP at any point — there is no rigid statute of limitations on claiming, though payment will be made from the date of application, not backdated to the date of bereavement in most cases. Contact your local Intreo office to discuss your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get this grant if I am not entitled to the Widow's Pension?
Possibly — but it depends on whether the deceased had sufficient PRSI contributions. The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant is usually linked to the Contributory Pension eligibility criteria. If the deceased lacked sufficient PRSI contributions, you may not qualify for the grant. However, if you qualify for the Non-Contributory Widow's Pension (means-tested), you may still be able to claim the grant. Contact DSP to confirm.
Do immigrants qualify for this grant?
Anyone ordinarily resident in Ireland who meets the eligibility criteria (widowed/surviving CP with dependent children, deceased had PRSI contributions) can qualify. Nationality is not a barrier. The Habitual Residence Condition applies to means-tested payments — but this grant is not means-tested, so HRC is less of a factor. The PRSI contribution requirement of the deceased spouse is the main test.
Does the €6,000 affect my Jobseeker's Allowance or other means-tested payments?
The Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant should not be assessed as means for most DSP purposes — Revenue exempts it from income tax and it is classified as a grant, not income. However, if you are assessed for a means-tested payment, declare the grant and ask DSP how it is treated for your specific means assessment. In most cases it does not count as assessable means.
What if I remarry — can I still receive the grant I already received?
Yes. The €6,000 grant is paid once as a lump sum — you keep it regardless of what happens afterwards (including remarriage). However, your ongoing Widow's Pension will cease if you remarry (though it can be reinstated if that marriage also ends).
Are there any other bereavement payments available?
The old Bereavement Grant (€850) was abolished in 2014. The main bereavement-related payments remaining are: (1) the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant (€6,000, for those with children); (2) the Widow's/Surviving CP Pension (ongoing weekly payment); (3) the Additional Needs Payment (for immediate funeral/bereavement costs for those without resources); and (4) Death Benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme (for spouses of workers who died from a work-related accident or disease).
- The Widowed Parent Grant (€6,000) still exists — it is not the same as the old Bereavement Grant (€850) which was abolished in 2014. Many people confuse them.
- The grant is in addition to the weekly Widow's Pension — not instead of it. You receive both if you qualify for both.
- The €6,000 is not means-tested — you receive it regardless of income or savings.
- You must have at least one dependent child to qualify for the grant — widowed people without children do not receive this specific lump sum.
- The grant is paid once — not annually. You cannot claim it again if you later have another child.
Related guides
This page was reviewed against official DSP and Citizens Information guidance and updated to reflect the 2026 Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant amount and application process.