Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 7

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Non-Contributory Pensions.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

248 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will outline, (a) the number of persons who now fail to qualify for old age non-contributory pension who have post 1953 contributions which when calculated to date amount to less than the 20 per annum required, (b) the average number of pre-1953 contributions made by such people and (c) the possibility of qualification for pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

Entitlement to an old age non-contributory pension is subject, inter alia, to the claimant satisfying a means test and is not related to the claimant's social insurance record.

To qualify for old age (contributory) pension a person must have, inter alia, a minimum yearly average of 20 contributions since entry into insurance or, if later, January 1953 when the unified social insurance scheme came into operation. Contributions paid prior to 1953 cannot be taken into account in calculating the yearly average. The person concerned applied for contributory pension in January 1991. A deciding officer determined that he was not entitled to an old age (contributory) pension as he had a yearly average of 17 contributions since 1953. He had no contributions prior to 1953.

Information is not available as to the number of persons failing to qualify for pension who would have contributions paid prior to 1953.