Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
222. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if an individual (details supplied) has an entitlement to apply for the State pension (contributory), in view of the fact that they have 244 reckonable contributions paid since 2014 and they also have mixed contributions for a number of other years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21057/24]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 22 December 2020.
To qualify for the standard state pension (contributory) an individual must have 520 full-rate contributions. This equates to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
As the person concerned worked in the public service, they were also considered for a mixed insurance pension. To qualify for this pension, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions.
According to the records of my department, the person concerned has 243 full rate contributions. Since their contributions fall short of the requisite number of contributions required for the standard and mixed insurance pension, the application for State Pension (contributory) was disallowed on 1 December 2020.
The person concerned re-applied for state pension (contributory) on 25 January 2024. Details of employment prior to 1974 were included in this application. As my department has no record of contributions recorded prior to 1974 for the person concerned, a review of their contribution record is currently being undertaken.
On completion of this review, the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
