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Pension Provisions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2012

Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Questions (235, 236)

Gerald Nash

Question:

243 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the contact she has made with social security authorities in other states to clarify the number of persons resident here receiving pensions from those states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33276/12]

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Gerald Nash

Question:

244 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the information she has furnished to the Revenue Commissioners in relation to residents of Ireland who are receiving social security pensions from other states, where that information has been furnished to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33277/12]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together.

The Department does not have information about the total numbers of people resident in Ireland with foreign social security pensions as information about an individual with other pension income would only be required by the Department if the person applied for the means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory). That information is mainly sourced when the person applies for that pension.

A person can receive both an Irish contributory pension and a pension from another source such as an occupational or foreign pension. Their entitlement to the contributory pension is based on their PRSI contribution record. It is not means tested so information in relation to their other income is not required. In addition, there would be people resident in Ireland with foreign social security pensions who have no Irish pensions.

In relation to means tested payments, any monies received by way of a foreign social security payment is assessable as means for the purposes of determining the rate of their social welfare means tested payment. An applicant for a means tested payment is obliged to declare if they have an entitlement to a foreign social security payment/pension. If a person has indicated that they previously worked in the UK or in another jurisdiction, then a check will be made with the relevant authority to establish if the customer had an entitlement to a social security entitlement from that jurisdiction.

It is the practice that a data match is conducted with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in the UK to identify their customers who reside in Ireland and who are receiving a social security payment from the UK and the rate of payment the customer is receiving. This information is then matched against DSP customers who are receiving means tested income support payments.

Once the information is received and the customers are identified, a review of the customer's entitlement is undertaken. Appropriate action is then taken in terms of amending the rate of entitlement to the DSP payment/pension. The impact of any increase in the value of the UK entitlement on a customer's DSP entitlement is also dependent on the change in the exchange rate, if any, since the customer's entitlement was last reviewed. The value of any increase in the UK entitlement may be offset by a reduction in the exchange rate, if the exchange rate has fallen.

To date the Department has not provided the Office of the Revenue Commissioners with any information that was received from other States on residents of Ireland who are receiving social security pensions from outside of Ireland.

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