Crackdown on state pensions nets €15 million for exchequer

Thousands of partners of state pensioners have had their pensions reduced or cut off completely as part of a new crackdown which has brought in €15 million.

Social welfare inspectors are targeting up to 66,000 people – mainly women - who get a partial pension while their partner gets a full state contributory pension.

They are checking tax records, bank interest payments and property registration databases to see if these failed to declare ...