Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I was reflecting on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023, which is going through the Seanad. As regards the extension of the age limit for making contributions beyond 66 years, the Bill states people cannot do so if they claim a contributory State pension. It is silent on the issue of a non-contributory pension. For someone who was short on contributions and subject to means testing, the best option would be to apply for the non-contributory pension, get a job at €39 a week, get the A stamp and claim the non-contributory pension because, on reaching the age of 70, that person will get the contributory pension as the extra contributions will be thrown in. That is an anomaly which was not foreseen by the Department. I do not expect the Minister of State to reply to my point because it is quite technical but perhaps he will convey my concerns to the Minister that the Department may be subject to a load of claims for non-contributory pensions that were foreseen. One could have an craiceann agus a luach.

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