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State Pensions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2021

Wednesday, 15 December 2021

Questions (135)

Alan Dillon

Question:

135. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the State pension (non-contributory) over the past five years to date; the number of persons receiving the State pension (non-contributary) over the past five years to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62222/21]

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Written answers

State pension non-contributory, a social assistance scheme, is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.

The table shows the total number of applications for state pension non-contributory (new first-time claims, excluding re-applications) which were received by the Department in each year from 2016 to 2020. Up to end-November 2021, 8,335 new claims had been received. Over the five-year period, a gradual reduction in new non-contributory claims being received can be seen, which can be attributed in part to year-on-year increases in the numbers of people reaching state pension age, who have sufficient social insurance for state pension contributory eligibility.

At end-November 2021, there were 95,116 recipients of state pension non-contributory. The Deputy will see from the end-year statistics over the past 5 years, that recipient numbers have remained relatively consistent over the period.

Year

Pension claims received

Year-Ending

No. of pension recipients

2020

8,789

31 December 2020

95,465

2019

8,766

31 December 2019

94,854

2018

9,053

31 December 2018

95,263

2017

9,187

31 December 2017

95,140

2016

9,213

31 December 2016

95,221

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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