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Social Welfare Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 June 2021

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Questions (145)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

145. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) does not qualify for the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29884/21]

View answer

Written answers

Invalidity Pension is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.

Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.

The relevant date is:

(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or

(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.

The person concerned submitted an application for Invalidity Pension on 19 September 2019. His application was disallowed and he was notified on the 27 November 2019. It was decided that the relevant year in his case is 2012. According to the Department’s records there are 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the contribution year prior to the relevant date (2011) and 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the second last year prior to the relevant date (2010).  The person concerned was notified of the decision on 27 November 2019 and given the right to review/appeal.

The claim of the person concerned was reviewed and the original decision remained unchanged.  He was notified of this decision on 23 January 2020 and as he had already submitted an Appeal in relation to the original decision, his file was then submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination by an Appeals Officer. 

On 26 March 2020, the person concerned was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that his appeal was disallowed.

The decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in light of additional evidence or new facts.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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