Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reinstate her Department's pension forecast service which was available to PRSI contributors in the past in view of the great uncertainty and anxiety that has arisen from impending changes to the State pension and the unreliability of the private pension system to provide adequate retirement income more generally. [3522/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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State pension entitlements can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an applicant reaches pension age. A person’s State pension (contributory) pension entitlement depends on the accuracy of their social security record to date, their future employment patterns, and their ongoing contributions to the social insurance fund until they reach the age of eligibility for pension, which is currently 66 years. Therefore, the Department is not in a position to provide information on possible future State pension (contributory) entitlements.

To assist people in calculating what their future State pension entitlements may be, the Department will provide individuals with details of their social insurance record to date, which should be used in conjunction with the detailed information available on the Department’s website, , in Frequently Asked Questions format. Information officers of the Department and the staff of the Citizen’s Information Services are also available to assist anyone who has a difficulty. Requests for a copy of their insurance record can be made through a variety of channels:

- online, via

- by telephoning LoCall 1890 690 690 (or + 353 1 471 5898, if living outside Ireland) or

- by writing to

The Department of Social Protection

Client Eligibility Services

McCarter’s Road

Ardarvan

Buncrana

Co. Donegal.

Should a person identify gaps or omissions in their social insurance record, they should contact the Department at the above address in order to have this rectified.