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.