Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 November 2013
96. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to contributory pension a person has if that person has ten continuous years of paid reckonable contributions from age 55 to 65, if previous legislation entitled a person with such a contribution history to a full contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48568/13]
View answerThe State pension is a very valuable asset and it is important, that those who receive it have made a significant contribution towards it during a working life.
In order to qualify for a minimum State pension contributory, a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include:
- commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age,
- payment of a minimum of 520 qualifying contributions and
- achieving a yearly average of at least 10 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, over their working life.
This requirement for 260 paid contributions to 520 paid contributions changed in 2012, but had been provided for in legislation since 1997. Notwithstanding this change, it is not possible for anyone to achieve a maximum pension with ten years paid contributions. The qualifying criteria as set out above provides for a minimum pension. Recent State pension reform measures have not changed this rule.
A yearly average of 48 contributions or more over the working life is required in order to qualify for a maximum pension. The longer a person works and pays employment contributions, the higher the amount they achieve in pension payment in retirement.
