Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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2043. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that paid an S contribution prior to 2011 that had been advised by her Department that they had sufficient pension contributions; the basis on which that advice was issued; the format in which that advice was issued; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons now find themselves with insufficient contributions for a full pension payment having followed the Department's advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28003/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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It is the Department’s policy to not predict what a person’s future pension entitlement may be due to the varying factors involved in calculating such pensions.

State pension (contributory) is currently payable from age 66. Under current legislation

- a person eligible for a state pension (contributory) must:

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

- have at least 520 full rate paid contribution weeks 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.

Accordingly pension eligibility can only be determined by a Deciding Officer following assessment of a person’s social insurance record on receipt of a completed application form. Where future pension entitlement enquiries are received, the person is informed that they can request a copy of their social insurance contribution record. It is expected that a new online statement of social contributions request facility, through MyWelfare, will shortly become available.The social insurance record, when combined with Frequently Asked Questions about state pension (contributory), will provide some guidance as to what the person’s future pension entitlement, if any, might be. Detailed information, including the Frequently Asked Questions, is available on the Department’ website .

It is likely that there will be a number of changes to state pension (contributory) eligibility conditions over the coming years. State pension age is already set to increase from 66 to 67 in 2021, and to 68 from 2028. In addition, the method by which pension entitlement is assessed is expected to change, moving to a total contributionsbased model in place of the current yearly-averagemethod.

A contributor who has not yet reached pension age is best advised to maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life. In the event that a person ceases insurable employment before reaching state pension age, they may wish to consider payment of voluntary contributions. Information about voluntary contributions, including eligibility conditions, is available by writing to Voluntary Contributions Section, Department of Social Protection, Cork Road, Waterford; by email to ; or by telephone on 356 000 or Locall 1890 690 690.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.