Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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402. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if persons may sign on for credits where they do not have a means tested social welfare payment as a result of their spouse's income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8160/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Credited contributions are a feature of the contributory social insurance schemes. A credit is pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution awarded to an insured person under certain circumstances, such as proved unemployment. Credited contributions ensure that a person’s insurance record is maintained and can be helpful at a later stage to qualify for other social welfare benefits, such as pensions.

In order to be awarded credits a person must satisfy all relevant conditions, including those relating to having a minimum specified level of PRSI contributions.

Where a person loses employment and has no entitlement to payment due, in the case of jobseeker’s benefit, to having insufficient PRSI contributions and, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, to the household means being in excess of the statutory limit, they may sign for jobseeker credits provided they continue to satisfy all applicable conditions, including PRSI contribution conditions and the requirement that they are available for full-time employment and can demonstrate that they are genuinely seeking such work.