Joan Burton
Question:589. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding a State pension to a person (details supplied). [2992/18]
View answerTuesday, 23 January 2018
Questions (589)
Written answers
The person concerned has modified insurance contributions from previous public service employment. Information regarding the person’s pre-1979 contribution record was initially requested from their employer on 24 October 2017 and again on 20 December 2017. A further request for this contribution history has issued on 19 January 2018.
Pending receipt of complete information on their contribution history, the person has been provisionally awarded a reduced rate of state pension (contributory) from their 66th birthday based on a yearly average of 34 contributions from 1967 to end-December 2016. As is the normal policy in such cases where employment details are awaited from their employer, the person’s date of entry has been taken in the interim as the date of their 16th birthday in 1967.
The applicant was notified of this decision in writing on 5 January 2018 and due arrears of pension were issued.
When the information is received from the person’s previous employer, the person’s social insurance record will be updated. Their pension entitlement will be re-assessed and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.