The person concerned was originally awarded invalidity pension based on a combination of her Irish and United Kingdom social insurance contribution records. Regulations provide that an invalidity pension can only be paid on a combined Irish and UK record until such time as the person reaches UK retirement age which in this case is 60 years of age.
Accordingly, with effect from 29 July 1999, she was no longer entitled to be paid full rate invalidity pension. She was, however, entitled to a pro rata pension at the rate of £55.30 per week. She may also be entitled to a UK retirement pension from age 60 and has been advised to apply for that pension. Her current entitlement to invalidity pension is based on her insurance record which shows a total of 46 reckonable contributions paid in 1980 and 1981. She has stated, however, that she was also employed between 1953 and 1973 but there is no social insurance record for her in respect of this period.
In this regard, her case has been referred to a local investigator to try to establish details of any additional contributions that she may have paid in respect of her employments with these companies. There investigations are continuing and when they are completed, her entitlement to invalidity pension will be re-examined and she will be notified of the outcome.
