Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
328. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the pension of a person (details supplied) will be examined with a view to reconciling their tax records with their pension stamps to optimise their pension payment. [30323/20]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 18 January 2020. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 543 qualifying full-rate paid contributions and 185 credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment on 19 October 1970 to end of December 2018. This equates to a yearly average of 15 contributions and gives them an entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 65% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision on 31 December 2019.
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 has been requested from the UK pension authority.
The person’s entitlement to an EU pro rata pension state pension (contributory) will be determined when this record is made available. The person will then be notified in writing of the outcome without delay and paid the most favourable rate of pension.
Accordingly, the person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of State pension (contributory) commensurate with their social insurance record as held by my Department. 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.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
