Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 86: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason there have been such delays for the past 12 months in dealing with pension applications; and if there are proposals to put in place a more efficient response system. [24711/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that pension claims are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. Claims for State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Transition) are now fully processed within three weeks of receipt of the applications where all information is available. Average processing times for all claims now stand at less than 8 weeks for a State Pension (Contributory) and 5 weeks for State Pension (Transition). Over the past year 59% of State Pension Non-Contributory claims were processed and decided within 8 weeks. The processes involved in deciding State Pension Non-Contributory claims are currently being reviewed with a view to reducing the time taken to decide claims.

In order to facilitate a good service people are advised to apply for a pension at least three months before reaching pension age. Recently, the Department introduced a process of contacting people inviting them to claim the State Pension Contributory pension in advance of reaching pension age in order to ensure their entitlement to pension is decided by the due date. Similarly, people who are in receipt of long term means tested payments, such as Disability Allowance, Jobseekers Allowance, etc. are also notified to claim State Pension Non-Contributory in advance of reaching pension age. I am satisfied that pension claims are processed in a timely manner and that customers do not experience undue delay.