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Carer's Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 June 2020

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Ceisteanna (1090)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

1090. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will introduce appropriate measures to ensure that carers who are in receipt of the carer’s allowance and who provide full-time care and attention for children with special needs qualify for the State pension, contributory, in due course; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8675/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A person is required to have a minimum of 520 paid reckonable PRSI contributions in order to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).  The actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000 which requires people who claim a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over 50 years of a working age life.

When I introduced the Interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) it included provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme which fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time, acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994.  Interim TCA provides for up to 20 years of home caring periods to be considered.  Those who have a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits/homecaring periods,  qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. These arrangements benefit many people who are or who have been in receipt of Carer's Allowance, subject to them satisfying the other conditions regarding the State Pension (Contributory).        

From April 2019, all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Interim TCA, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner.

It should be noted if a person does not satisfy those conditions, they may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% that of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory).  Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.

The Total Contributions Approach (TCA), when it is introduced, is intended to be a fairer and more transparent system where the person’s lifetime contribution will be more closely reflected in the benefit received.  Having carefully examined the outputs of the TCA consultation process, officials in the Department are designing the scheme, with a view to including significant recognition for home caring periods in the new model.  The final design of the TCA model will need to be brought to Government for consideration and approval in due course.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Question No. 1091 answered with Question No. 1088.
Question No. 1092 answered with Question No. 1057.
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