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Pension Provisions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Questions (101, 110, 117)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

101. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of her plans to re-examine the situation in which women who were in the workforce and left in earlier years for family duties are not in a position to receive the full State pension (contributory) when they reach retirement age; and her further plans to address this situation. [46754/18]

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Bríd Smith

Question:

110. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures she will take to ensure equality in the State pension (contributory) scheme; when pensioners affected by current rules can expect to see those measures enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46846/18]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which progress continues to be made in addressing the issue by which women for one reason or another have been deprived of contributory pensions, having retired from the workplace while raising their families due to the marriage ban and made a major contribution to society in the course of their working lives; if their cases are being re-examined with a view to crediting them with sufficient contributions to enable them qualify for the State or retirement pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46793/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 110 and 117 together.

On 23 January last, the Government agreed to allow pensioners, born on or after the 1st September 1946, affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands, to have their state pension (contributory) entitlement calculated under an interim “Total Contributions Approach” (TCA). The changes also provide for up to 20 years of home caring periods in the calculation of that entitlement, for those who took time out of the workplace for parenting children under age 12, or individuals who needed increased levels of care.

The changes apply to those who reached pension age on or after 1st September 2012 who were awarded less than maximum rate, on post Budget 2012 rate bands. The changes do not apply to anyone already entitled to maximum rate state pension (contributory).

Currently there are approximately 79,000 pensioners in this category and my Department is now in the process of issuing Information Letters to them.

Work on examination of the social insurance records of the pensioners concerned commenced in September. As social insurance records are unique to individual pensioners, this manual examination phase is expected to continue to the end of the year. To date, over sixty temporary staff members have been recruited to work on this phase. Further recruitment will take place in January 2019 when the first pension reviews are expected to get under way and it is anticipated that the first review outcomes will be notified to pensioners during Quarter 1 2019.

Payment of increases, where awarded, will be made immediately after an individual's review is completed. Where an increase is awarded, it will be backdated to 30 March 2018, or the person's 66th birthday if later, and arrears paid. If a pensioner does not qualify for an increased rate, they will continue to receive their existing rate of entitlement.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.

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