Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 October 2015
40. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be entitled to an invalidity pension as he was previously approved for a disability payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34758/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
To qualify for IP claimants must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
According to the Department’s records, it appears that the person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However entitlement to IP can be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim.
Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The person in question was in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from 13 December 2006. Payment ceased with effect from 11 September 2011 as the person’s means exceeded the statutory limit for DA. If the person concerned thinks he now may be eligible for DA, it is open to him to make a new application and a decision on his eligibility will be made as soon as possible.
