Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2023
396. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) does not qualify for a State pension (contributory or non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32385/23]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 11 July 2007.
Social welfare legislation at that time stipulated that a minimum of 260 full-rate paid contributions were required to qualify for standard State pension (contributory) for people reaching age 66 - equating to 5 years of full-rate insurable employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 21 full-rate paid social insurance contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 260 paid full-rate contributions, they did not qualify for State pension contributory. They were notified in writing of this decision on 3 May 2007 and provided with a copy of the social insurance record on which their pension decision was based.
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 and their pension entitlement will be reviewed. Awarded credits are only included in the calculation of a person’s pension entitlement once the minimum requirement of 260 full-rate paid contributions is satisfied.
Both the homemaker’s scheme and home caring credits can be used to improve a person’s rate of pension entitlement. However, a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions for State Pension (contributory) to avail of either of these schemes.
State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, who have a right of residence and habitually reside in the State and who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or only qualify for a reduced-rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
The person concerned applied for state pension non-contributory in 2022. It was decided that they did not qualify as their means exceeded the statutory weekly limit. A decision letter issued to the person concerned outlining the decision and offering them the right to appeal this decision.
The person concerned appealed the decision to disallow their State pension non-contributory application. On 9 March 2023, the person concerned was notified that their State pension non-contributory appeal was disallowed.
As the spouse of the person concerned is not in receipt of State Pension (contributory), there is no option to apply for Increase for Qualified Adult allowance.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
