Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 July 2023
154. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection when the legislation to provide for the flexible pension age and a pension for carer’s will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33092/23]
View answerIn September 2022, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the measures announced is the introduction of flexibility to the State Pension (Contributory) from January 2024, allowing a person to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate.
A person with less than 40 years contributions can use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional entitlements and, if a person has less than 10 years PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they can use this period to establish entitlement.
As the State Pension age remains at 66 years, a person can still draw their State Pension (Contributory) at State Pension age.
One of the most important reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record and by establishing a register of family carers for this purpose. These 20+ years of attributed contributions can be used to access the State Pension (contributory) even for those without 10 years paid contributions, as currently required.
Department officials are currently working on these reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems for implementation by January 2024.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
