Some 5,500 of the 10,300 pensioners receiving British pensions in addition to Irish non-contributory old age or a non-contributory widow/er's pension have had their entitlement reviewed this year. Of these, 3,430 pensioners or 62% had their Irish pensions reduced due to increases in their means; 110 pensioners or 2% had their pensions withdrawn as their means exceeded the statutory limits for entitlement; 1,680 pensioners or 31% experienced no change and a further 280 pensioners or 5% received an increase in their Irish pensions.
Reviews of this nature are carried out periodically to ensure that the correct entitlement is being paid in cases where the pensioner has not requested a review in the light of a change in means. The reductions in pension where they occurred arose largely from the annual increase in British pensions over a number of years rather than any change in the punt/sterling relationship as such. Apart from these periodic reviews, the Department carries out some 2,000 pension claim reviews routinely per year, about three-quarters of which are undertaken at the pensioners' request. Of these routine reviews some 40% result in an increase in pension rate, with a further 35% resulting in no change. The balance of 25% of these reviews result in rate reductions or cessation of entitlement in cases where pensioners have significant increases in other means. Information is not available on the extent to which British retirement pensions are in payment in the cases reviewed in this way. It is, of course, open to any pensioner to request a review in the event of a reduction of means due to currency fluctuations or for any other reason.
