Marian Harkin
Question:796. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of D class pensioners in the State over 70 years of age. [12348/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
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State Pension (Contributory) is a payment which you may qualify for at 66 years of age if you have enough Irish social insurance contributions. This pension is based on your social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Modified contributions can be combined with full-rate contributions and credits to give an entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory). In order to be eligible for this pension an applicant must have 260 full-rate paid contributions.
It should be noted, the Department would have no records of those who are in receipt of an occupational pension based on their service in the civil or public service and who do not qualify for the State Pension (contributory).
At the end of February 2023, there were 22,617 recipients of the State Pension (Contributory) over 70 years of age with a record of Class D PRSI contributions. It is important to note that these are all individuals with a record of at least one class D PRSI contribution. They may have qualified for a full-rate pension rather than on the basis of Modified rate contributions.