Widows’ pensions to be reinstated: Storey

Finance Minister Mervyn Storey today announced the reinstatement of widows’ pensions, which had been stopped when they remarried.

Remarried widows and widowers, whose husbands and wives were members of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, will have their pensions reinstated.  The changes will also provide for the continued payment of pension if widows and widowers remarry in the future.

Commenting, following an eight-week consultation period, the Minister said: “My Department received over 50 responses, which overwhelmingly supported the proposed changes. I have now decided to act and reinstate pensions from April 2016 to those widows and widowers who lost their pensions when, for example, they remarried.

“The changes I’ve announced today will benefit widows and widowers whose husbands and wives have served  our community in Northern Ireland over many years, including prison officers, civilian members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”

The Department of Finance and Personnel will make direct contact with those widows and widowers who may be eligible for the reinstatement of their pension.

Payments will be made from April 2016 onwards and will apply to all members in the future. The minimal costs of this change will be met by the employer and spread over the lifetime of the pensions.

Further information on the response to the consultation can be found at on the DFP website.

Notes to editors: 

1. These changes will bring the current arrangements into line with pension arrangements introduced in 2002 for Northern Ireland Civil Service.
2. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Finance and Personnel Communications Office on Tel: 028 9081 6724 or Tel: 028 9081 6895. Out of Office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
    

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