Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
903. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who were born before 1 September 1946 cannot avail of home caring periods in terms of their pension; if she believes that this is discriminatory on the grounds of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57122/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom September 2012, the rates of State pension (contributory) paid to those who had a yearly average of less than 40 contributions was lowered.
In recognition that these rate changes may have negatively impacted certain cohorts, in January 2018, the Government announced an Interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to calculate the entitlement of pensioners who reached State pension age on or after 1 September 2012 (i.e., those born on or after 1 September 1946) and who had a reduced rate pension entitlement based on those post Budget 2012 rate bands. As part of the Total Contributions Approach, HomeCaring Periods were introduced for the first time which allowed those who cared for children, or other dependent relatives, claim up to 20 years in lieu of contributions.
People whose pensions were decided under the 2000-2012 ratebands (i.e., those born before 1 September 1946) were subject to a significantly more generous payment regime than those who qualified before or afterwards, as a Yearly Average of only 20 contributions per year (out of a possible maximum of 52) could attract a 98% pension. If pre-2012 pensioners were also allowed avail of the interim Total Contributions Approach, including HomeCaring Periods, their arrangements, as a group, would be significantly more generous than those of post-2012 pensioners.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
