I am a private sector employee for 30+ years and have contributed at the full rate all of that time. My wife is a teacher in the public sector and I am wondering if under current legislation she would be entitled to the old age contributory pension in addition to her own in the event of my passing before her.
What I think you're asking is if your wife can claim the old age pension based on your contributions - the answer is no, she can't. Any entitlement your wife may have to a state pension is based on her contribution history.
She would be entitled to apply for the Widow's Contributory Pension, as that is based on either her contributions or yours.
So can she claim the widow's pension based on my contributions in addition to her teachers pension? She does not pay prsi at the appropriate rate but would be in receipt of her own teachers pension anyway. Thanks.