Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 January 2018
580. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the record of contributions in the case of a person (details supplied); and the reason they are not in receipt of a full State pension (contributory). [4022/18]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of a reduced rate state pension (contributory) with effect from 28 December 2017, based on an assessed yearly average of 38 contributions, covering their 50-year working life from December 1967 to end-December 2016. According to the records of my Department, the person has a social insurance record of 1,885 reckonable contributions and credits. The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of contributory pension based on this social insurance record. The person has no recorded contributions for the tax years 2008, 2009 and 2011, and has less than the full rate of 52 contributions for a number of years during their contribution history. This affects their overall yearly average and, consequently, their rate of weekly pension entitlement.
The person was notified in writing of their pension award on 18 October 2017. Attached to that letter was a copy of their contribution record, as held by my Department and upon which their entitlement was calculated. If the person concerned considers they have additional unrecorded contributions or credits, it is open to them to forward relevant documentary evidence and my Department will review their entitlement.
Last week the Government announced proposals that pensioners who qualified for state pension (contributory) since September 2012, and whose rate of entitlement was impacted by the 2012 rate band changes, may apply for a review to have their entitlement considered under a new Total Contribution Approach (TCA). It will take some time to draft and pass the necessary legislation, and then develop the systems and procedures necessary to administer the new pension entitlement option. It is expected that these pensioners will start receiving invitations from my Department in Q4 2018 to apply for a review under the new pension eligibility arrangements, and to notify any periods spent caring for which HomeCaring credits may be due. Review applicants will be notified of the outcome of their review and the higher rate of entitlement, where applicable, will be paid to them. Where an increase is awarded, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
