Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 May 2016
117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to review the decision to decline an invalidity pension to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10791/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on the 04 September 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 29 September 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned requested a review of this decision and following a review of all the information available it was decided that there was no change to the original decision. The person concerned was notified on 17 February 2016 of the outcome of the review and of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) within 21 days.
The person in question appealed the decision to the independent SWAO. An appeals officer (AO), having taken all available information into account, upheld the department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The person in question was notified of the decision of the AO on the 03 May 2016. The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in the absence of additional relevant evidence not available at the time of the appeal. If the person in question considers that the department’s record of her contribution history is incomplete and has further evidence in this regard, she should submit this to the department for consideration.
Persons who have an insufficient employment/PRSI record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
The department received a claim for DA for the person concerned on the 19 April 2016. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
