Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow qualifies for social welfare credits and or State pension in view of the fact that they are currently in receipt of disability benefit; if he will review this persons entitlement to State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21145/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The qualifying conditions for State Pension (Contributory) require the applicant to have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years; have at least 260 paid contribution weeks, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance; satisfy the yearly average condition.

The person concerned applied for State Pension (Contributory) in February 2010. His claim was disallowed on 25th February 2010, on the grounds that he does not satisfy the contribution condition as he only has a total of 109 paid contributions.

In cases where social insurance credits are allocated to an individual's record while they are in receipt of a social welfare payment, the credits are generally allocated at the same rate and class as the individual's last paid contributions. As the person concerned last paid contributions were at a modified rate, the PRSI credits assigned to their record are also at a modified rate and as such are not reckonable when calculating entitlement to State Pension (Contributory).

A completed application for Household Benefits was received in this Department from the person concerned on 18 March, 2010. A means assessment form was issued to him and on receipt of the information requested, his entitlement will be examined and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.