Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Pension Provisions

10:00 am

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 464: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will accept evidence of electronic transfers as proof of the UK pension paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo from the bank statement already submitted to his Department from the bank that he now deals with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30132/10]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 466: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason he sought specific bank account statements from a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the account was closed 20 years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30141/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 466 together.

State pension (non-contributory) is a means tested payment and all income is assessable as means. Income includes cash income, private pensions, foreign pensions, the value of any property and the value of any investments, monies held in financial institutions and capital which the claimant may have. Where a social security payment is being received from a paying authority in another jurisdiction, it is the policy of the scheme area to seek official documentary evidence from the client of the specific amount being paid by that authority. Accordingly, the scheme area does not normally accept evidence of a social security payment by way of entries on bank statements.

There is an onus on the Social Welfare Local Officer to request any documentation necessary to clarify the position in regard to any aspect of a client's means in order to assess a claim for State pension (non-contributory). It is also incumbent on that officer to investigate the current position with regard to information which may have been submitted earlier in the application process. If a particular bank account is no longer in operation, then the onus is on the client to provide documentary evidence of that fact from the relevant bank.

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