Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019
474. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a UK record for a pension application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; the status of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40903/19]
View answerA minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions is required for entitlement to standard state pension (contributory), with a minimum of 260 full-rate paid contributions required for entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata pension. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 181 full-rate paid Irish contributions. Based on their Irish contribution history only, the person does not qualify for an Irish state pension (contributory).
Under European Union Regulations, a person’s social insurance record in one or more EU countries can be combined with their Irish social insurance record, to determine entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension. As the person concerned has a UK social insurance record, details of their UK contribution history have been requested from the UK pensions authority.
While the person has provided details of UK employment and their addresses while living in the UK, they have not provided their UK National Insurance Number. The absence of this number greatly hampers the Department of Work and Pension in the UK from locating details of the persons UK record. Similar to an Irish Personal Public Service Number (PPSN), a National Insurance Number is a unique identifier which would facilitate tracing this person’s UK record.
If the person in question can assist in the provision of this number it will be of great assistance in locating their UK record.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
