Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
329. 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. [30324/20]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 27 May 2017. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 853 qualifying full-rate paid contributions and 282 credited contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment on 29 May 1967 to end December 2016. This equates to a yearly average of 22 contributions and gives them an entitlement to a standard State pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision on 25 April 2017.
An interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) was introduced in January 2018 as an alternative to the ‘yearly average’ method of calculating pension entitlement for those State pension (contributory) customers born on or after 1 September 1946 and therefore affected by post-2012 Budget pension rates. The TCA provides for up to 20 years of HomeCaring Periods in their pension entitlement calculation for applicants who took time out of the workplace for parenting or caring duties.
When the person’s State pension (contributory) was reviewed under this approach, they were awarded 1074 HomeCaring Periods. This increased their rate of pension entitlement from 85% to 91.01% of the maximum rate. They were notified in writing of this decision and arrears on 27 February 2019. They are also in receipt of Living Alone, Fuel and Telephone Support Allowance.
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.
