Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 January 2024
277. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm if a person (details supplied) has enough paid contributions to make an application for a contributory pension from before she left Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3513/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has 200 reckonable contributions. Since they do not have 520 paid full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for State pension (contributory).
If the person concerned was employed in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, they may be entitled to a pro-rata state pension (contributory) based on a combination of their insurance record in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, and their Irish insurance record.
Where a person does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a state pension (contributory), or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one the following:
- The state pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested, residency-based payment for people of pension age. The maximum personal rate is approximately 95% of the maximum rate of contributory pension; or
- An increase for a qualified adult, equivalent to 90% of the full rate State Pension (contributory) where their spouse is in receipt of this pension
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
