Deserted Wife's Allowance

Learn more about Budget 2025 measures.

Deserted Wife's Allowance is a means-tested payment made to women under 66 years without dependent children, who were deserted by their husband and who do not qualify for Deserted Wife's Benefit.

Deserted Wife's Allowance has been closed for new applications since 2 January 1997 when the One-Parent Family Payment was introduced.

Some women continue to receive Deserted Wife's Allowance because they qualified for the payment before 2 January 1997 and have continued to meet the qualifying criteria.

Deserted Wife's Allowance is a payment made to a woman deserted by her husband and who did not qualify for Deserted Wife's Benefit (because there were insufficient PRSI contributions recorded on either her own or her husband’s insurance record before the date of desertion).

Deserted Wife's Allowance is paid until your 66th birthday. You can then apply for a State Pension (Non Contributory).

Deserted Wife's Allowance is €244 per week.

It is no longer possible to apply for Deserted Wife's Allowance. The payment has been closed to new applicants since January 1997.

You must always tell the department if there are any changes to your circumstances while you are getting a Deserted Wife's Allowance.

If your means or circumstances change, you may no longer qualify for the payment or it may be reduced.

This could mean that you have to repay an overpayment.

For more information about Deserted Wife's Allowance contact:

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

• Operational Guidelines: Deserted Wife's Allowance
• Operational Guidelines: Payment-related issues