Sorca Clarke
Question:733. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments which remain payable should the recipient relocate permanently outside the State. [47892/23]
View answerTuesday, 7 November 2023
Questions (733)
Written answers
The following payments can be retained when the recipient relocates permanently outside the State subject to continuing to satisfy all of the relevant scheme qualifying conditions.
• Guardians Contributory payment
• State Pension Contributory
• Disablement Benefit or Death Benefit (under the Occupational injury Benefit Scheme)
• Widows/Widowers or Surviving Civil Partners Contributory Pension
• Invalidity Pension, and
• Partial Capacity Benefit (where Invalidity Pension is the underlying scheme)
Where a Social Welfare recipient, in receipt of one of the above payments, wishes to move to another Country and retain their payment, they should contact the Department to make arrangements for the transfer of that payment and provide information regarding payment details.
While Social Assistance payments are generally not payable to a person who takes up permanent residence outside the State, there are two exceptions provided for in legislation. These exceptions relate to State Pension Non-Contributory and Blind Pension and apply only where either scheme was paid to a person prior to relocating to Northern Ireland. Such payments may continue in payment for a period of up to 5 years or until an alternate payment is made by the appropriate authority in Northern Ireland, whichever occurs first.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 734 answered with Question No. 698.