Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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62. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was refused a social welfare payment; the number of contributions the person has paid, or is being credited, that could effect the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25366/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

To qualify for IP a claimant, inter-alia,must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 05 June 2015. According to department’s records, the person in question has a total of 1886 reckonable contributions paid and 24 contributions credited in 2014, the contribution year before the date of his claim. His medical eligibility for IP was not assessed or determined. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. He was notified on 11 June 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person in question also applied for disability allowance (DA) on 15 January 2015. He was disallowed DA on the grounds that, based upon the information supplied in support of his application, he did not satisfy the medical conditions and did not satisfy the means test for that scheme. He was notified on 20 April 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his rights of review and appeal.