Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:385 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4 qualifies for a pre-1953 contributory pension or ordinary pension. [20027/01]
Written Answers. - Pension Provision.
To qualify for the pre-1953 contributory pension, a claimant must have entered into insurance in Ireland prior to 1953 and have at least 260 full rate contributions paid. The 260 can be made up solely of pre-1953 contributions or a mixture of contributions paid before and after 1953. However, at least one contribution must have been paid prior to 1953. As the person concerned was not insurably employed in Ireland prior to 1953, she does not qualify for the pension.
One of the conditions for receipt of a standard old age contributory pension – OACP – is that a person must have a certain number of contributions paid. In the case of the person concerned she would require a minimum of 260 contributions paid since commencing insurable employ ment. According to my Department's records, she has a total of 120 paid contributions, which is insufficient to qualify for a standard rate pension.
The person concerned is at present in receipt of a reduced old age (non-contributory) pension of £23.50 per week, inclusive of a living alone allowance of £6. She also receives a fuel allowance of £8 during the 29 week period from October to April each year and has entitlement to various free scheme benefits.
Michael Ring
Ceist:386 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a widow's pension; and if the death certificate and the applicant's birth certificate can be returned immediately. [20030/01]
The person concerned has been paid the six weeks after death payment due on her late spouses pension claim for the weeks up to 3 May 2001. She qualifies for a widow's contributory pension at the maximum weekly rate of £89.10 plus an increase of £17 per week in respect of a qualified child dependant, with effect from 11 May 2001. A payable order book for £106.10 will issue to her local post office for collection on Friday 13 July 2001. She also qualifies for a widowed parent grant of £1,000 and arrangements are being made to issue her with a cheque for this amount. All certificates included with her application form were returned her on 29 June 2001.