Vol. 555 No. 2
417 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has contributions which would entitle them to a contributory pension or a portion thereof; the way in which the non-contributory pension was assessed, including calculations on their UK pension and so on. [17968/02]
There is no record of an application for old age contributory pension from the person concerned. An application form has issued to him for completion. On receipt of the completed form his entitlement will be examined and he will be notified of the position. He is in receipt of an old age non-contributory pension. Following a review of his entitlement his means were assessed at €127.60 a week and his entitlement was reduced to €14.00 a week with effect from 9 August 2002. Under the rules applying to a married couple, both he and his spouse are assessed with half the value of a British retirement pension of £162 sterling per week. His spouse was awarded old age pension in her own right at the weekly rate of €14.00 from the same date.
Notification of the revised decision and a breakdown of the means assessment issued to him in August 2002. He is also receiving a fuel allowance of €9.00. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims are made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.
