Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2016

Department of Social Protection

State Pension (Contributory)

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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262. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has been means tested for a State pension (dontributory), despite the fact that the person concerned is a Magdalen laundry survivor and provision has been made to allow them to receive an amount equivalent to the State pension (contributory); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18098/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Magdalen Commission Scheme is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality. The scheme enables the women over the age of 66 who qualify to receive the equivalent of the maximum rate of State pension contributory for the remainder of their lives. The current maximum rate of State pension contributory is €233.30 per week. If a person is already receiving a payment from this Department, the rate of that payment is taken into account when assessing any entitlement to payment under the Magdalen Scheme.

The person in question is currently receiving both the State pension non-contributory and Carer’s Allowance and the cumulative amount of both these payments is in excess of the current maximum weekly rate of State pension contributory. As the person concerned is already in receipt of payments in excess of the current maximum weekly rate of State pension contributory of €233.30, entitlement to payment under the Magdalen Scheme does not arise in this case. In the event that the lady in question is no longer eligible for Carer’s Allowance at some future date, an appropriate adjustment will be made to her payment at that stage which will ensure that she continues to receive the maximum payment allowable under the Magdalen Commission Scheme.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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