Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
422. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if home carers credits will be adjusted for the pension of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5439/21]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or adult who has such a disability that as a result, they require that level of care.
Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions.
Credits are awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness, and their purpose is to help protect the social insurance entitlements of insured persons during periods when they may not be in a position to pay contributions.
Persons in receipt of CA can qualify for credits where they have previously entered insurable employment and paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P. In general credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce i.e. within the last 2 years.
The person concerned was in receipt of CA from 26 November 2009 to 29 January 2014. The person’s entitlement to credits has been examined and I can confirm that she does not qualify for credits as she did not have any reckonable contributions paid or credited prior to her claim for CA going into payment. Correspondence has issued to the person concerned on 28 January 2021 notifying her of same.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
