One of the conditions for receipt of a standard rate old age contributory pension is that a person must have a yearly average of at least ten social insurance contributions recorded. The yearly average is calculated over the period from 1953, or date of entry into insurance, if later, up to the end of the last full contribution year before reaching pension age – 66 years.
The person concerned has contributions recorded over the period 1953 to 1957 during which a total of 189 contributions are recorded. This results in a yearly average of four. Her claim to old age contributory pension was, therefore, disallowed and she was notified accordingly. The question as to whether or not the person concerned was insurable under social welfare legislation for the period 1988 to 1998 while she assisted her husband in the running of his business has been raised.
A deciding officer has decided that she was not insurable under social welfare legislation for the period concerned. If she is dissatisfied with this decision, it is open to her to appeal against it to the social welfare appeals office. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
Question No. 922 answered with Question No. 880.