All applications for state pension (contributory) must be assessed under the eligibility conditions set out in social welfare legislation. This provides that
where an
applicant for state pension (contributory) became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988 and, at any time before that date, was an employed contributor, the date on which they first entered insurance, or 6 April 1988, whichever is the more favourable, shall be regarded as their date of entry into insurance for the purposes of the application of the ‘yearly-average’ assessment.
As the person concerned did not become a self-employed contributor from 6 April 1988, the standard eligibility conditions for state pension (contributory) apply, and his date of entry into insurance was taken as 8 April 1967. According to the records of the Department, he has a total of 1,575 reckonable paid and credited contributions from that date of entry into insurance to end-December 2016 (the last complete contribution year prior to reaching pension age). This gives a yearly average of 32, which qualifies him for a reduced-rate state pension (contributory) of 90% of maximum rate, with effect from 8 April 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
