Michael Creed
Ceist:284 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the benefits from class s PRSI contributions. [3132/02]
Written Answers. - Social Insurance.
The following benefits are available to class S contributors; widow's-widower's contributory pension, orphan's contributory allowance, old age contributory pension, maternity benefit and adoptive benefit.
Michael Creed
Ceist:285 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will relax the condition governing entitlement to voluntary additional PRSI contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3134/02]
Voluntary contributions may be paid where a contributor ceases to be covered by compulsory PRSI either as an employee or as a self-employed person and if they are under age 66, provided certain conditions are satisfied.
To become a voluntary contributor the person must have at least 156 weeks PRSI paid under compulsory insurance in either employment or self-employment. Two hundred and sixty weeks PRSI paid will be required on or after 6 April 2002, and apply within 12 months after the end of the contribution year during which compulsory insurance was last paid as an employed or self-employed contributor or during which the last credited contribution was awarded – this period may be extended in special circumstances and agree to pay voluntary contributions from the start of the contribution week after the week in which the person ceases compulsory insurance.
My colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development advises successful applicants for his Department's early retirement scheme that voluntary PRSI contributions may be made in order to qualify for the old age (contributory) pension.
Any change to the conditions governing the entitlement to voluntary contributions would have to be considered in a budgetary context.