In order to qualify for State pension non-contributory (SPNC) an applicant must be residing in the State and satisfy the habitual residence conditions for receipt of prescribed payments from my Department. The couple in question came to Ireland on 1 June 2011 and applied for SPNC while residing with their daughter. The couple subsequently returned to their home country shortly thereafter.
As the couple were in the State for a very short period, their applications were disallowed as the residency condition for receipt of SPNC was not satisfied. On the basis of information provided to my Department by the couple, it would appear that the couple's main centre of interest is outside Ireland and therefore, the habitual residence condition is also not satisfied.