Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the need to have 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the date of one's claim in order to qualify for invalidity pension; if she recognises that for many persons there is often a considerable period of illness and a delay in making a claim; if she will immediately review this criterion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43391/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity Pension is a long-term payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the relevant contribution conditions. A person is regarded as being incapable of work if for the period of one year immediately before the date of application the person has been continuously incapable of work and a deciding officer or an appeals officer is satisfied that the person is likely to be incapable of work for at least another year or a deciding officer or an appeals officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.

In many cases, people claiming invalidity pension will have been in receipt of illness benefit for the year immediately preceding the claim but in relation to the requirement that a claimant must have 48 contributions paid (at Class A, E or H) or credited in the last complete tax year before the date of claim, I would point out that one of the fundamental principles upon which the social insurance system is based is the contributory principle whereby there is a direct link between contributions paid or credited and entitlement to a varying range of benefits which are payable, if and when particular contingencies arise.

In this regard, I am satisfied that it is appropriate that there should be more stringent contribution criteria for those claiming a long-term benefit payment, such as invalidity pension, as opposed to a short-term benefit payment, such as illness benefit.