Robert Troy
Question:512. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pension payment for a person (details supplied) will be increased. [24895/20]
View answerTuesday, 22 September 2020
Questions (512)
Written answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 20 August 2011. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 1,504 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions for the period from their date of entry into insurable employment (2 October 1961) until end-December 2010, which equates to a yearly average of 30 contributions.
This gives them entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 98% of the maximum rate. In order to qualify for a maximum rate of pension, the person concerned would need a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment to the end of the last complete tax year preceding the year they turned pension age.
The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of State pension (contributory), commensurate with their social insurance record since October 1961 as held by my Department. This is calculated in according with Social Welfare legislation. If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
In January 2018, the Government announced a new calculation method for State pension (contributory), including the introduction of new HomeCaring Periods, for people born on or after 1 September 1946, who were awarded State pension (contributory) based on reduced post-Budget 2012 rate bands. Since this person’s date of birth is before 1 September 1946, they are not affected by the 2012 Budget changes and are not within the cohort of pensioners eligible for review of their pension entitlement under the interim Total Contributions Approach.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.