Distress as farm spouses told to return state pension payments

MAJOR distress has been caused among some farm spouses who have been informed by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that their contributory state pension is being withdrawn and refunds of payments sought.

Fine Gael agriculture spokesperson Michael Creed TD has accused Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin of engaging in a smash and grab raid on farm spouses.

He said these people had been awarded pensions retrospectively but are now being asked to refund what has been awarded to them by the department.