Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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193. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a pension claim will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25046/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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To be eligible for state pension (contributory) under current social welfare legislation an applicant must:

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

- have at least 520 full rate paid contributions since entry into insurance;

- for a maximum rate pension, have a yearly average of 48 paid and/or credited contributions from 1979, or from the applicant’s date of entry into insurable employment to the end of the last complete tax year preceding their 66th birthday, 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 66th birthday.

According to the records of the Department, the person concerned has a total of 1,767 reckonable paid and credited contributions from 9 June 1969 (date the person entered into insurable employment) to the end of December 2016 (the last complete contribution year prior to the person reaching age 66). This gives the person a yearly average of 36 and an entitlement to €214.20 state pension (contributory) per week, effective from 11th May 2017. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 4th May 2017, together with their right to appeal the decision.

The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994, to make qualification for state pension (contributory) easier for claimants who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows a period of up to 20 years (from 1994) spent caring for children under 12 years of age or an incapacitated person(s) to be disregarded when state pension (contributory) eligibility is being assessed. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which the person’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average, and making it easier for them to qualify for pension, or where qualified, to receive a higher rate of entitlement. In the case of the person concerned, it is not possible to apply the homemakers disregard as the period spent caring preceded 1994.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for state pension (non-contributory). This is a means tested pension, also payable from age 66. I have arranged for an application form to be issued to the person concerned. On receipt of a completed form, the person’s entitlement to state pension (non- contributory) will be assessed and the person will be notified of the outcome without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.