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State Pensions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021

Wednesday, 17 February 2021

Ceisteanna (506)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

506. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be assisted to obtain a State pension payment; if they are entitled to any other payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8702/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

State Pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State Pension (contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means-test, at the outset and at any review intervals during the lifetime of the claim, a claimant must provide, on request, full and up to date details of any income(s), assets, savings and investments they may hold.

The person concerned had been in receipt of a State Pension (non-contributory) which, in the course of a review of entitlement, was terminated from 7 February 2020, due to their non-disclosure of means to an Inspector of the Department and later to a Deciding Officer.

A re-application for pension was received from the person concerned on 26 August 2020. The case was referred to an Inspector to investigate the means of the person concerned. As additional financial information, requested on a number of occasions by the Inspector, was not provided, it was not possible to assess the person’s weekly means. The Deciding Officer was therefore unable to establish if an entitlement to state pension non-contributory existed and the person's re-application was disallowed. On 6 January 2021, the person concerned was notified in writing of the reasons for this decision.

Further information was received from the person concerned on 18 January 2021 which was forwarded to the Inspector for consideration. Based on the information provided, the Inspector was still unable to undertake a complete means assessment. This was explained to the person concerned in a letter on 1 February 2021.

The Deputy's Parliamentary Question will be taken as a request for a further review of this case. The Deciding Officer will arrange for the Department's Inspector to contact the person concerned again in relation to the outstanding information. On receipt of the Inspector’s report, the Deciding Officer will make a decision on the State Pension (non-contributory) entitlement of the person concerned and will notify them of the outcome without delay.

In the interim, should the person concerned be suffering from financial difficulty they are advised to contact their local Community Welfare Service, which may be in a position to provide them with financial assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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