A widow/widower shall be entitled to an allowance if:
- at the date of the spouse's death he/she satisfied the relevant contributions conditions. This may be a monthly pension benefit depending on the spouse's contributions or a onetime lump sum payment.
- if you qualify for a widow or widower's benefit, you are no longer required to pay your portion of social insurance contributions, however your employer will continue to pay their portion on your behalf
The widow or widower benefit is paid for the first 26 weeks after the death of the spouse, but this may continue if:
- you are incapable of self-support;
- or you have dependent child(ren) under school-leaving age;
- you are over the age of 50.
A widower is disqualified for receiving a widower's allowance for any period during which he/she cohabits with another man/woman for any period after he/she remarries.