Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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236. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for a State pension (contributory) in each of the past four complete years whose application was unsuccessful; who received the full rate; and who received the reduced rate. [36110/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The following table shows the number of applications for state pension contributory (SPC) received during each of the four years period 2011-2014, and the outcomes of SPC applications decided during that period.

*It is open to those disallowed SPC, or awarded at a reduced rate, to apply for state pension (non-contributory).

To be eligible for a state pension (contributory) at age 66, an applicant must:

-have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years.

-have at least 520 paid contribution weeks since entry into insurance, from employment or self-employment.

-(for a maximum rate pension) have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from 1979, or from their date of entry into insurable employment, to the end of the last complete tax year preceding their 66^thbirthday, or

-(for a reduced rate pension) have a yearly average of at least 10 paid and/or credited contributions recorded from 1953, or from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment (whichever is the later), to the end of the tax year preceding their 66^thbirthday.