Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
1202. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding retired post office workers whose only income is their post office pension; if they have an entitlement to the State pension (contributory) and other related benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5116/20]
View answerEligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is determined on a case by case basis based on an individual's social insurance record built up over their working lifetime.
Specifically, the State Pension (Contributory) is available for those who have paid at least 520 reckonable social insurance contributions and who have reached their 66th birthday. It should be noted that not all classes of PRSI are reckonable for state pension purposes including Classes B and D, the rate at which most public servants hired prior to 6 April 1995 pay, including those who worked in semi state organisations such as An Post.
Provisions also exist for the award of a mixed insurance pro rata state pension, where a person has substantial periods of PRSI coverage that are not reckonable for pension purposes. Whether or not such a pension is more advantageous to a person depends upon their individual circumstances.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State Pension (Contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is currently €237 (over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension). This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
Corporate governance of An Post is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. More generally, responsibility for pension policy relating to public servants rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
