Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

221. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a State pension (contributory) was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied) when the pension is likely to be restored with any arrears due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33374/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An application by the person concerned for state pension (contributory) was received on 16 September 2009. The person did not indicate in his application form that he had been self- employed, nor did his social insurance record contain any self-employment contributions. Based on the person’s record as it stood, he satisfied the state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions and was awarded a pension, together with an increase for qualified adult, with effect from 28 December 2009.

In January 2010, it was noted from the Department’s self-employment system that the person concerned had been assessed by Revenue as having a self-employment tax liability, with payments outstanding for the years 2003-2005, inclusive. As the discharge of all assessed self-employment liabilities is a key eligibility condition for state pension (contributory), following a period of monitoring to check if the liability was paid, and noting that it had not been, a Deciding Officer suspended the payment of the person’s state pension under the relevant social welfare legislation, with effect from 27 May 2011. The person was notified of the impending pension suspension in a letter issued on 28 April 2011 and advised to contact the Department in due course, when the liability had been fully paid.

Over the following years, the Department contacted Revenue periodically to check if the person had paid the outstanding liability, but was advised each time that it remained outstanding. In November 2016, Revenue confirmed that the liability had been paid.

Accordingly, the pension has been reinstated with effect from the date of payment suspension, and the due arrears will issue shortly.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.