Written answers

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Department of Social Protection

Pension Provisions

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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330. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the payments available to a person who will be 65 years old in February 2014, and who has to retire upon the grounds of ill health; the transitional provisions that would apply to them until their 67th birthday; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42346/13]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Short term social welfare schemes are payable to age 66, including illness benefit. Each application for any social welfare scheme, including the illness schemes, is assessed on its own merit in terms of qualifying criteria and contribution history. Where a person fails to meet the qualifying conditions of an insurance based scheme, the means tested assistance payment may be available provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions including a means test. In order to provide for sustainable pensions and to facilitate a longer working life, the Government decided to increase State pension age in three separate stages. This decision to reform State pension was taken in the context of changing demographics and increasing longevity. Accordingly, in 2014, the State pension age will be standardised at 66. This will be increased to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028. This will see the abolition of the State pension transition payment from 2014.

The Deputy may wish to note that significant numbers of people are on social welfare schemes well in advance of State pension age. For example, in 2012, 11,130 people were awarded State pension transition and of these, 12.5% (1,390) came from employment with some 50% (5,635) coming from another social welfare payment including illness related schemes, indicating that quite a number of number of people are already in the social welfare system in advance of State pension age.

With the changes to State pension, social welfare support will continue to be available and targeted at those most in need.

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