Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
801. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on a widower's pension application (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15039/24]
View answerTo qualify for widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension, a person must satisfy certain social insurance conditions, based on either their own or their late spouse's or civil partner’s record.
The social insurance record of the person concerned comprises 539 paid and credited Irish social insurance contributions in respect of the period between 1997 and 2022, giving a yearly average of 21 weeks of contributions since entering insurable employment. Therefore, the person concerned does not meet the yearly average minimum requirement of 24 to entitle him to a standard widower's contributory pension. As the late spouse of the person concerned did not pay social insurance in Ireland, their record cannot be considered. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 29 February 2024.
My Department will now assess the entitlement of person concerned to a pro-rata pension under EU Regulations based on employment in Ireland and other EU countries, including the UK. We have contacted our counterpart, the Department for Work & Pensions, in the UK to obtain the person's UK social insurance record. When this is received, entitlement to a pro-rata pension will be assessed and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
