Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
304. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any arrangements in place to provide income support for a person (details supplied) given they are a taxpayer in this country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4751/24]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 23 July 2023. The application for State Pension (Contributory) was received on 17 July 2023.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). The records of my department show the person concerned has 304 paid full-rate contributions. As the person concerned does not have the minimum 520 full rate paid Irish contributions, they do not qualify for an Irish state pension (contributory) based on their Irish contribution history alone.
An EU Pro Rata pension is payable where a person has worked in Ireland and one or more EU countries. A Bilateral Pro Rata pension is payable where a person has worked in a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral agreement. These pensions are payable where a person does not qualify for a pension based on their Irish contributions alone or who may qualify for a higher rate of pension based on a combination of Irish and Bilateral contributions. Under these regulations, their social insurance record in that country can be combined with their Irish insurance record to satisfy the conditions and give entitlement to a proportional or pro rata pension.
Entitlement to a pro-rata State Pension (Contributory) based on their Irish insurance record and their insurance record in the Netherlands is under investigation. Upon receipt of the insurance record from the Dutch pension authorities, their entitlement will be examined. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
Following your representation, my department is now aware that the person concerned worked in the United States of America (USA). The person concerned will be contacted in order to get the necessary information required to examine their entitlement to a Bilateral pension based on their Irish insurance record and their insurance record in the USA.
Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a State Pension (contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, it is open to them to apply for the State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 95% of the State pension (contributory). An application form issued to the person concerned in July 2023. To date, a completed application for this payment has not be received.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
