Terence Flanagan
Ceist:278 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18852/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 11 May 2010
Ceisteanna (239)
Freagraí scríofa
The homemaker's scheme makes qualification for the state pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme which was introduced in and took effect from 1994 allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes.
To be eligible for the homemakers scheme, a person must permanently live in the State, be aged under 66, have started insurable employment or self-employment on or after the age of 16 and before the age of 56, not work full-time, although a person can work and earn less than €38 gross per week, care for a child (under 12) or an incapacitated person on a full-time basis.
The scheme will not, of itself, qualify a person for a pension. The standard qualifying conditions, which require a person to enter insurance ten years before pension age, pay a minimum of 260 contributions at the correct rate and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions on their record from the time they enter insurance until they reach pension age, must also be satisfied.
Homemaking periods through child benefit applications are automatically registered when a person submits their pension application.
The National Pensions Framework which was launched in March 2010 will introduce a system of homemaker's credits to replace the current disregard from 2012 and allow backdating to 1994 for the purpose of the averaging system that will continue until 2020. This means that people reaching pension age after the credits are introduced will have credits rather than disregards applied to their records to cover periods of care since 1994 (up to a maximum of 20 years).
Upon introduction of the total contributions approach in 2020, the maximum number of credits applicable for pension purposes will be 520 (i.e. 10 years). It is intended that a standard approach will apply to the various categories of people who receive credited contributions, including jobseekers and people with disabilities.
The person concerned is in receipt of child benefit and as such she is automatically entitled to the homemakers scheme. Her claim for child benefit is treated as an application to be registered as a homemaker. She will be registered as a homemaker for the periods that she spends providing full-time care to her children up until their 12th birthday providing she is not in full-time employment or in receipt of any social welfare credits. Homemaking periods through child benefit applications are registered when a person submits their application for state pension (contributory).
As the person concerned will not reach pension age until after 2020 her application for state pension (contributory) will be determined under the new system as outlined in the National Pensions Framework.