Releasing Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section accounts after a death
How to notify Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section of a death and release any accounts, policies, or balances held by the deceased. Typical response times, documentation required, and common issues.
About Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section
Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section is an Irish government agency. If the deceased held an account, policy, investment, or obligation with Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section, it must be notified of the death and any balance released to the estate through the Grant of Probate.
How to notify Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section of a death
Step 1: Write to Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section enclosing a certified copy of the death certificate. Standard notification-of-death letters are accepted by every Irish institution. The letter should include the deceased's full name, date of birth, date of death, last address, and the PPS number of the person who died if known. A sample letter is included in the ProbatePack Notification Pack and Preparation Pack.
Step 2: Request written confirmation of the balance, value, or amount held at the date of death. This written figure is what goes on the Revenue SA2 Statement of Affairs. Current balance (today) is not enough; you need the date-of-death figure specifically.
Step 3: Wait for response. Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section's typical response time is 2 to 4 weeks. Follow up in writing at 3 weeks if nothing has arrived.
Contact details
Address: State Pension Section
Department of Social Protection
College Road
Sligo
F91 T384
Phone: 0818 200 400
Documents Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section will ask for
- Certified copy of the death certificate (not a photocopy).
- Photographic identification for the executor or administrator (passport or driver's licence).
- The PPS number of the person who died if known. If not known, provide enough details for Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section to identify the deceased's record.
- At release stage (after the Grant issues): a certified copy of the Grant of Probate or Grant of Administration.
Typical timeline
Initial notification to Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section: 3 to 5 working days for acknowledgement of receipt. Written balance confirmation at date of death: 2 to 4 weeks typically. Full release of assets following receipt of the Grant: 2 to 4 weeks.
Common issues
- Joint accounts. Where the deceased held an account jointly with a surviving spouse or partner, most accounts pass by survivorship and are not part of the estate. The surviving account holder should notify Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section of the death and request the account to be transferred into their sole name.
- Direct debits and standing orders. Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section will usually ask whether to cancel outgoing payments from the deceased's accounts. Check first whether each is a legitimate estate expense (utility bill, insurance premium) that the executor may want to continue paying.
- Online access. Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section's online banking or online account access typically closes on notification of death. Any digital records required for the estate administration should be printed or saved before notification if possible.
- Small Estates. For balances below €25,000, some institutions release without requiring a Grant of Probate under the Small Estates procedure. This is at the institution's discretion, not a legal right.
How ProbatePack helps with Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section
The Preparation Pack (€229) produces a pre-personalised notification letter to Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section, ready to sign and post, and records the response in the Asset Tracker so you know exactly when each institution replied and what balance they confirmed. The Complete Bundle (€449) adds the full inheritance-tax layer on top, including the CAT calculator and the Dwelling House Exemption assessment, for estates that will cross the Group A threshold.
How Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section fits into the wider probate process
Notifying Department of Social Protection, State Pension Section is one step in the full Irish probate sequence. The executor also has to prepare the application for the Probate Office, complete the SA2 Statement of Affairs on Revenue myAccount, and assess the inheritance tax position against the 2026 CAT thresholds. See the full list of 25 Irish institution guides for the other institutions the estate may need to notify, and the pre-lodgement checklist for the six steps that must be complete before the papers reach the registry.
Related institution guides
What to do next
A personalised diagnostic report telling you in plain English whether you need probate, whether you can do it yourself, what it will cost, how much inheritance tax the family will owe, and what to do in the next 14 days. If you later upgrade, we take €50 off the next pack.