Since late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands. These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.
The detailed breakdown requested by the Deputy is not readily available, however based on a sample of cases where increases were awarded, the best estimates of review outcomes per category requested is set out below:
Post review rate (based on sample) | Percentage of pensioners per rate category |
Maximum rate | 62% |
90% - 99% of maximum rate | 24% |
80% - 89% of maximum rate | 8% |
70% - 79% of maximum rate | 4% |
60% - 69% of maximum rate | 1% |
50% - 59% of maximum rate | less than 1% |
40% - 49% of maximum rate | less than 1% |
Less than 40% | less than 1% |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.