Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the non-contributory State pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18710/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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State Pension (Non-Contributory) is a means tested payment for persons over 66 years of age. All income is assessable as means and this includes cash income, income from employment/self-employment, private pensions, foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding the claimant's own home) and the value of any investments, monies held in financial institutions and capital, which the claimant or his/her spouse may have.

The person concerned was 66 years on 22 September 2009. Her husband is a farmer and owns an 80 acre holding. In order to determine the level of income from the farm she was requested by the Social Welfare Inspector to provide recent accounts for the farm. The Inspector was referred to her husband's accountant who advised that the most recent accounts were in respect of the 2002 tax year.

Both the person concerned and the accountant were requested to provide an up to date statement of income and expenditure for the holding. This information was not provided and therefore it could not be established if she has an entitlement to State pension non-contributory. A decision advising her that her application was rejected as she failed to provide information to establish her means issued to her on 3 November 2009.

If the information sought by the Social Welfare Inspector is now provided her entitlement can be reviewed.