Written answers

Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Department of Social Protection

State Pension (Contributory) Applications

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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296. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) will be finalised; the reason no acknowledgement or correspondence was issued in response to the application; if this is standard practice; the cause of the delay; the number of pension applications currently awaiting a decision for more than three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31495/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for state pension contributory (SPC) was received from the person concerned on 10 May 2016. The application was registered and an acknowledgement automatically issued by SMS text message on 12 May 2016. SMS text messages are now used as standard for application acknowledgements where the applicant provides a mobile telephone number.

The applicant concerned highlighted a period of insurable employment as a Civil Servant in the application. As the Department does not hold records in respect of pre-1979 employments in Government Departments, the Deciding Officer sought to obtain the necessary details from the applicant's employer on 1 June 2016. On foot of a reminder, the social insurance details were received on 11 October 2016. The application was decided and the person awarded state pension (contributory) with effect from 4 July 2016 (i.e., the applicant's 66thbirthday), the due date of pension entitlement. A notification of the decision issued on 20 October 2016, together with payment of the due arrears.

The Department is committed to ensuring that state pension (contributory) claims are processed as expeditiously as possible. In general, the Department achieves its operational target of ensuring that over 90% of timely applications for state pension (contributory) are awarded, where entitled, by the applicants' 66thbirthday. Delays can occur where additional documentary evidence is required from an applicant, where the applicant has been self-employed, where they have been in public sector employment or where they have had period(s) of social insurance recorded in another country.

There are currently in excess of 372,000 recipients of state pension (contributory). In each of the past two years, an average of 39,000 new applications has been received. Of the state pension (contributory) claims received prior to 30 June 2016, there are currently 555 applications awaiting finalisation (representing less than 1% of the total 2014 - 2016 claims intake). Of these, 65 are currently in receipt of, or the beneficiary of, another social welfare payment. The balance includes a number of cases where additional information from the applicant, a previous employer or a foreign social security institution is awaited.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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