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Social Welfare Benefits Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 July 2018

Thursday, 5 July 2018

Questions (350)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

350. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) qualifies for a full State pension and-or other entitlements arising from their contributions during a lifetime of work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29981/18]

View answer

Written answers

To qualify for a standard state pension (contributory) (SPC) a person must have at least 520 full-rate paid contributions. Eligibility for a mixed insurance state pension (contributory) is based on a combination of at least 520 full-rate and modified-rate paid contributions, with a minimum requirement of 260 full-rate paid contributions.

The person’s entitlement to both a standard and mixed insurance state pension (contributory) has been investigated. According to the records of my Department, the social insurance record of the person concerned consists of 170 full-rate and 1,812 modified contributions. Therefore, the person concerned does not satisfy the qualifying conditions for standard or mixed insurance SPC and was notified of both decisions on 20 November 2017.

The person concerned has been awarded Free Travel.

In order to be eligible for the Household Benefits Package, applicants aged between 66 and 70 must either be on a qualifying payment or satisfy a means test.

This payment is not means tested for people aged 70 or over and there is no requirement for them to be in receipt of a qualifying payment.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for state pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested payment. If the person concerned has an assessed weekly income of less than €257.50 they may qualify for a state pension (non-contributory).

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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