Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2024
111. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details provided) who has been denied a benefit payment recently has sufficient contributions to be eligible for a contributory pension when they reach 66 years in January of next year; if she will review the decision to refuse the benefit payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8343/24]
View answerThe person concerned will reach 66 years of age in 2025.
As the person concerned has 520 full-rate paid contributions, the eligibility criteria for State pension (contributory) are met. The rate payable when the person concerned claims their state pension (contributory) will be dependent on the number of contributions and credited contributions on their social insurance record. In order to qualify for the maximum rate of pension, the person concerned requires a total of 2,080 (equivalent to 40 years) reckonable contributions and credits.
I have arranged for a copy of their social insurance record to issue along with a detailed explanatory to assist in understanding their record, and information on how to calculate entitlement to state pension (contributory).
In January 2024, I introduced a flexible pension system, where people can claim their state pension (contributory) at 66 or choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive a higher pension payment.
Further information in relation to State Pension (contributory) is available on www.gov.ie/pension.
In relation to the request for a review of the decision that issued on 25 January 2024 to disallow the Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds, a review has now been completed and the decision to disallow has been upheld. A letter outlining the reasons has issued to the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
