John McGuinness
Question:686. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if the matter will be expedited. [55048/22]
View answerSocial Welfare Appeals
Questions (686)
Written answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 September 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (687)
John McGuinness
Question:687. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has sufficient contributions to qualify for a pension in her own right; if her spouse is in receipt of his full entitlement and an adult dependent allowance; and if she will provide a record of the contributions made by the person. [55050/22]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 01 September 2016. There is no record of receipt of an application form for State Pension (contributory) or State Pension non-contributory.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department the person concerned has a total of 52 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions.
I have requested that a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record be issued to them. If the person concerned considers they have additional contributions from employment that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence, for the missing periods of employment, to my Department and their record will be reviewed.
It is also open to them to apply for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory). I have arranged for a State Pension non-contributory application form to issue to them.
The spouse of the person concerned is in receipt of maximum rate State Pension (contributory). They received the Increase for Qualified Adult allowance from 11 January 2014 to 11 September 2014. This allowance was stopped as they failed to respond to a review of this payment in July 2014. I have arranged for an Increase for Qualified Adult application form to issue to them, should they wish to reapply for this allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Offices
Questions (688)
Paul Murphy
Question:688. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 454 of 25 October 2022, the reason a person (details supplied) was told ‘there are no community welfare appointments in Tallaght since 2020’ as this is contradictory to the reply she provided. [55054/22]
View answerWritten answers
Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) based in the Tallaght Intreo Centre have been available to meet with citizens during office opening hours daily, Monday to Friday. It is regrettable in this instance that the person concerned received incorrect information and did not receive a prompt service.
Following your representation, a CWO has contacted the person concerned to discuss what assistance my Department can provide to her. The person has been advised to apply for a basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and an Exceptional Needs Payment. When the completed application form and supporting documentation is received by my Department, the person’s claims will be processed promptly.
It may be useful to know that any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone phoneline, which is available at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment. This appointment can be arranged within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. The introduction of a national CWS freephone line, means a customer doesn’t have to attend an office in person to make a claim or to make an enquiry about a claim if that is more convenient for them. A customer can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line.
A person’s case can also be escalated if urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment. Where it is clear a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Community Welfare Services
Questions (689)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:689. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers employed in each location in County Mayo in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55056/22]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently 12 (full-time equivalent 10.80) Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in County Mayo.
CWOs are currently based in the following Intreo Centres in County Mayo:
|
Intreo Centre |
No. of CWOs |
Full-time Equivalent |
|
Achill |
1 |
1 |
|
Ballina |
3 |
2.5 |
|
Castlebar |
7 |
6.3 |
|
Westport |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
12 |
10.8 |
A CWO is available to meet with customers living in County Mayo at the locations listed below. CWOs can facilitate an appointment within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.
- Ballina Intreo Centre
- Castlebar Intreo Centre
- Westport Intreo Centre
- Achill Intreo Centre
- Belmullett Intreo Centre
- Ballinrobe Branch Office
- Claremorris Branch Office
- Swinford Branch Office
Any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone phoneline, which is available at 0818 60 70 80, to make an appointment. This appointment can be arranged within a short time of a person requiring such a meeting, at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. The introduction of a national CWS freephone line, means a customer doesn’t have to attend an office in person to make a claim, or to make an enquiry about a claim if that is more convenient for them. A customer can speak directly with a CWO when they call the CWS freephone line.
A customer’s case can also be escalated if urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment. Where it is clear a person has an immediate need, every effort is made to ensure they receive a payment on the same day.
The delivery of a locally based Community Welfare Service remains and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Questions (690)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:690. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting times and waiting list figures for accessing Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55057/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
MABS operates an appointment scheduling system and this means that in some cases clients may have to wait a number of days or weeks for the next available appointment. The table below sets out the average wait times. However, clients can be seen immediately where necessary. In Q2 2022, 286 Emergency Clients were seen without any waiting period.
The MABS Helpline is available on 0818 07 2000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm) to support clients while they are awaiting their initial appointment with a MABS Money Adviser.
MABS Client Waiting Times & Numbers in Tabular Form Q2 2022
|
Regions |
Company |
Waiting Time Average Weeks |
Number awaiting first appointment |
|
DUBLIN SOUTH MABS |
Clondalkin |
1.8 |
4 |
|
Ballyfermot (Dublin 10 + 20) |
1.2 |
3 |
|
|
Lombard Street (Dublin South East) |
1.8 |
10 |
|
|
Dun Laoghaire |
1.4 |
2 |
|
|
Dundrum |
1.6 |
4 |
|
|
Tallaght |
0.6 |
6 |
|
|
NORTH CONNACHT & ULSTER MABS |
Cavan |
1.0 |
3 |
|
Donegal North |
2.2 |
21 |
|
|
Donegal South |
1.6 |
1 |
|
|
Donegal West |
0.2 |
1 |
|
|
Leitrim |
1.2 |
7 |
|
|
Monaghan |
1.2 |
3 |
|
|
Sligo |
1.0 |
6 |
|
|
NORTH DUBLIN MABS |
Ballymun |
2.0 |
6 |
|
Blanchardstown |
2.6 |
15 |
|
|
Coolock (Dublin North East) |
1.2 |
6 |
|
|
Dorset St (Dublin North City) |
1.6 |
8 |
|
|
Finglas |
1.8 |
6 |
|
|
*Swords (Fingal) |
|||
|
NORTH LEINSTER MABS |
Athlone |
0.4 |
4 |
|
Drogheda |
1.4 |
5 |
|
|
Dundalk |
1.0 |
5 |
|
|
Kildare |
0.6 |
10 |
|
|
Longford |
0.8 |
2 |
|
|
Meath |
1.0 |
4 |
|
|
Mullingar |
0.4 |
1 |
|
|
NORTH MUNSTER MABS |
Clare |
1.2 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
0.8 |
9 |
|
|
Tipperary North |
0.6 |
- |
|
|
Tipperary South |
0.2 |
3 |
|
|
Waterford + Waterford West |
0.4 |
2 |
|
|
SOUTH CONNACHT MABS |
*Galway North |
||
|
*Galway South (2 offices) |
|||
|
Mayo North |
1.8 |
2 |
|
|
Mayo South |
1.4 |
4 |
|
|
Roscommon |
0.6 |
1 |
|
|
SOUTH LEINSTER MABS |
Arklow |
0.0 |
- |
|
Bray |
0.2 |
- |
|
|
Carlow |
1.0 |
3 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
0.2 |
3 |
|
|
Laois |
0.6 |
2 |
|
|
Offaly |
0.0 |
- |
|
|
Wexford |
0.0 |
- |
|
|
SOUTH MUNSTER MABS |
Charleville |
1.8 |
1 |
|
Cork City |
0.0 |
- |
|
|
Cork North |
1.8 |
11 |
|
|
Cork West |
1.2 |
3 |
|
|
Kerry |
1.2 |
11 |
*Waiting times for these services were not available at time of publication.
Community Welfare Services
Questions (691)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:691. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the plans to recruit 80 additional staff to community welfare services; if posts have been advertised; if recruitment has commenced; when it is anticipated that the full 80 will be recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55058/22]
View answerWritten answers
The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority in my Department and recruitment has commenced for additional staff to be assigned to the Community Welfare Service. Recruitment will be through a combination of appointments from the Public Appointments Service (PAS) general service panels, internal promotions and expressions of interest from existing Department of Social Protection staff. It is anticipated that the additional resources will be fully in place in the early months of the New Year. In the meantime, thirty staff who were formerly Community Welfare Officers are being temporarily reassigned to the Community Welfare Service for a period of three months to assist with claims processing.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (692)
John McGuinness
Question:692. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) will be backdated to the date that they commenced giving the care in 2020; and if the appeal will be expedited and approved. [55071/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 4 November 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 693 answered with Question No. 679.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (694)
John McGuinness
Question:694. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the review of a disability allowance claim in the name of a person (details supplied) has been completed; and if all outstanding payments due to the applicant will be paid without delay. [55081/22]
View answerWritten answers
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of DA with effect from 11 August 2021.
Following a review, the DA of the person concerned has been increased with effect from 11 August 2021 as an error was made on the initial means assessment. Her first payment with an increase in DA rate will be made by her chosen payment method on 09 November 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 03 November 2022.
Arrears of payment due from 11 August 2021 to 08 November 2022 will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
Based on evidence provided in support of her PUP claim, full-rate DA has been awarded and a review from a current date will be undertaken to establish means from self-employment income, if any.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (695)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application by a person (details supplied) for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55098/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the Disability Allowance appeal of the person concerned was disallowed by an Appeals Officer by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the decision on 12 October 2022.
It is open to the person concerned to request a review under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 and to submit any additional fresh evidence or facts he may have in support of the review. On receipt of a request for a 317 review, the Appeals Officer will consider whether the decision may be revised in the light of the new evidence or new facts which have been brought to their notice. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the review based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Offices
Questions (696)
Róisín Shortall
Question:696. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures in place to assist young persons in need of social welfare support at an INTREO office (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55114/22]
View answerWritten answers
MyWelfare.ie gives a person easy access to a range of services, including making appointments, applying for certain benefits, updating personal details and ordering statements. MyWelfare is safe, secure and accessible at any time and on all devices. A person needs an email address, PPSN and bank account details to use these services and they must set up a basic MyGovID account - this is a simple and straight forward process.
If a person is not in a position to use or access online services, they can apply for an income support payment in-person at their local Intreo Centre, including Ballymun. Officials will provide any necessary assistance in the application process. A person can also utilise the services of their local Citizen’s Information Centre for general information on all Government supports.
My Department has set up a National Intreo Contact Centre (NICC) to respond to telephone calls made to Intreo Centres. When a customer rings the NICC freephone number at 0818 405 060, their call will be answered by NICC staff who will resolve the query if possible, or if necessary, escalate onward to the relevant Intreo Centre. All Intreo staff are committed to prioritising these follow-up requests and will make contact with the customer directly. In instances where it is clear that queries are of an urgent nature, these calls are prioritised.
When a person is awarded a Jobseeker’s payment, they are referred to my Department’s Activation and Employment Services. This involves a group information session which gives a comprehensive overview of all supports available and outlines the support process for customers. Each Jobseeker is then given access to an Employment Personal Advisor who looks at the customer’s skills, work experience and preferences to enable them to access employment. Where there are training or educational needs, an Employment Personal Advisor can make the necessary referral to Activation Labour Market Programmes, such as the Work Experience Placement Programme, Community Employment, Tús and/or further education and training. Each Jobseeker is given a Personal Progression Plan and is supported throughout their job-seeking journey. Assistance is also provided to support customers with CV and job interview preparation.
The provision of an in-person service to customers continues to be an important part of my Department’s service delivery.
If the Deputy has details of specific cases, I would ask that she brings this to the attention of the Department by emailing TDREPSEasternRegion@welfare.ie or phoning the Oireachtas direct point of contact line at 01 462 4308.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
Question No. 697 answered with Question No. 676.
Departmental Reviews
Questions (698)
Bríd Smith
Question:698. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has any plans to act upon the recommendations and findings, when published, of the child maintenance review group report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55120/22]
View answerWritten answers
In line with the Programme for Government commitment, the Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland. The Group's Terms of Reference were to consider and make recommendations on:
(i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department;
(ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department; and
(iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.
The Group's report was submitted to me in April. I have given the report the careful consideration that such an important and complex issue deserves. Given that it relates to issues that are beyond the scope of the social welfare system, I am also consulting Government colleagues.
Once the report has been fully considered, my intention is to bring it to Government before the end of this year, at which time a decision regarding the publication date, and potential implementation of any recommendations, will be made.
As lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty, I was pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to them.
Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lump sum payment of €400 this month.
Approximately half of the payments of the €500 cost of living lump sum payment which will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment this month will be made lone parents.
I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January. The personal rate of working age payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will increase by €12, from €208 to €220 per week, also from January. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over. As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets.
I trust this clarifies the position.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (699)
Michael Creed
Question:699. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s allowance review of a person (details supplied). [55121/22]
View answerWritten answers
Carer'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 an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 15 July 2022.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of the application concerned was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 23 August 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their application.
The outcome of this review is that the application was awarded to the person concerned on 4 November 2022, with effect from 21 July 2022. The first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 10 November 2022.
Arrears of allowance due from 21 July 2022 to 9 November 2022 will issue to their nominated bank account on 10 November 2022.
The person concerned was notified on 4 November 2022 of this revised decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Cost of Living Issues
Questions (700)
Seán Canney
Question:700. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has plans to introduce targeted measures to improve the circumstances of one-parent families in 2023, given that there were no targeted measures for these families in Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55139/22]
View answerWritten answers
I was pleased that Budget 2023 included a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion. I am very mindful that lone parents continue to be a group with a high risk of poverty and for that reason I was particularly pleased to provide a number of measures in Budget 2023 which will be of benefit to lone parents.
Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment are amongst those who received a double weekly payment in October and who will receive a Christmas bonus double payment in December. Like all families with children, lone parents received a double payment of Child Benefit on 1 November. Lone parents in receipt of the Fuel Allowance will also receive a lump sum payment of €400 this month.
Approximately half of the payments of the €500 cost of living lump sum payment which will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment this month will be made lone parents.
I have also provided for a €40 increase in the weekly income thresholds for the Working Family Payment from January. The personal rate of working age payments such as One-Parent Family Payment will increase by €12, from €208 to €220 per week, also from January. In addition, the rate of Increase for a Qualified Child will increase by €2 to €42 per week in respect of a qualified child under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in respect of a qualified child aged 12 or over. As a result, these rates will have increased by €6 for under 12s and by €10 for over 12s over the last three Budgets.
While income supports are important, access to affordable and available services such as housing, health, childcare, and education, plays an equally strong and potentially more sustainable role in addressing poverty.
The ESRI analysis of Budget 2023 shows that the income of lone parent households will remain essentially stable as a consequence of Budget 2023 measures, with less than 0.2 per cent reduction, indicating that the Government measures are, in the main, effective at protecting lone parent households from the impact of the significant levels of inflation. The Budget 2023 Expenditure Report notes that lone parent households stand to benefit from a €1,872 annual increase in support.
The Department of Finance, in its analysis of the distributional impact of the tax and social welfare package of Budget 2023, found that single retirement age households and lone parents gain proportionally the most from both the Cost of Living Measures package and the 2023 package, with social welfare measures contributing the most to these gains.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to the reduction of all forms of poverty, in particular for lone parents and children as outlined in the Programme for Government, and to the continued support of children and families across the country.
Question No. 701 answered with Question No. 683.
Question No. 702 answered with Question No. 676.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (703)
Seán Canney
Question:703. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend social protection legislation to allow persons in receipt of farm assist payments to receive the household benefits package, given that low-income farm families are among those struggling with increasing energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55166/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €273 million this year on HHB for over 500,000 customers. People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
The payment types that allow a person to receive the HHB package aged under 66 are those that are paid to people who have a long-term illness or disability or to their carers who reside with them.
While the Department's schemes are reviewed on an ongoing basis, there are no plans to extend the HHB package to working age payments such as Farm Assist. Any decision to do so would change the nature of the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
The Government is very aware of the increased cost of living and, in Budget 2023, has provided an unprecedented response that aims to ease the financial pressure on households throughout the State.
As part of the Government's cost of living measures in Budget 2023, in October, an Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment was paid to Social Protection recipients including people in receipt of Farm Assist.
Farm Assist is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance and, in November 2022, a further lump sum payment of €400 will be paid to Fuel Allowance recipients to alleviate the burden of rising energy prices and inflation.
People who are in receipt of Farm Assist will get the Christmas Bonus double payment which will be paid from the week commencing 5 December.
From January 2023, the maximum rate of Farm Assist rate will increase by €12 to €220 per week. There will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people getting a reduced rate. The weekly full rate for a qualified child will increase to €42 for children under 12 years of age and to €50 for children aged 12 years and over
The enhanced electricity credit of €600 is another important Government measure announced in the Budget. This will also benefit all households. The first €200 will be applied to electricity bills before Christmas.
The Government will continue to monitor the cost-of-living situation closely.
I would also like to highlight that the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (704)
Robert Troy
Question:704. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the contribution history of a person (details supplied); and if these contributions can be amended to entitle this person to a State pension (contributory). [55178/22]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned reached pension age on 13 August 2022. My Department have not received an application for State Pension (contributory).
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department the person concerned falls short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions.
I have requested that a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record be issued to them. If the person concerned considers they have additional contributions from employment that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence of the missing periods of employment to my Department.
The person concerned applied for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory) in June 2022. However, as they failed to provide requested information, their application was disallowed. It is open to them to re-apply for this pension. I have arranged for a State Pension non-contributory application form to issue to them.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.