Farmers’ wives appeal to ombudsman over pensions

FARMERS’ wives shocked by a decision by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to take back their pensions have appealed the move to the Pensions Ombudsman.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen was also confronted by the IFA about the decision in his home county Offaly.

At least 85 elderly farmers’ wives are being asked to pay back state pension payments – some as much as tens of thousands of euro – after a major departmental blunder. The women, many in their 70s and 80s, have been told the department wants the money back, as they were not eligible because they had not paid at least one year’s PRSI before the age of 66 under a department scheme.