Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
371. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the new rules for the granting of paid contributions to long-term carers; whether there is a minimum number of paid contributions from employment or self-employment required before a person can be granted long-term caring paid credits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55980/23]
View answerThis Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension Contributory. They may for example have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 10 year’s paid contributions.
In September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represents the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the key measures to be introduced is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more. Long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to satisfy the minimum 520 contributions condition.
Long-term carer's contributions will be available to individuals who reach State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and will also be available to people currently over pension age. Individuals will be able to apply for these contributions and receive a State Pension (Contributory) or enhanced pension from 1st January 2024 where eligible. Legislation to enact this measure is currently in the latter stages of the legislative process.
In September, my Department launched an online system for people to register for long term caring contributions. This will facilitate the expeditious processing of these contributions upon enactment of the legislation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
