Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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551. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43387/17]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The PRSI contribution conditions are that the person must have at least 260 (5 years) paid contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

New regulations will come into effect from 1 December 2017 whereby class S (self-employment) contributions will be reckonable for IP purposes.

To date there is no record in my department of receipt of a claim for IP from the gentleman in question. According to the department’s records, it appears that this gentleman does not satisfy the PRSI contribution criteria for IP at present. However, entitlement to IP can only be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.

Persons who have an insufficient employment/PRSI record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. For example, persons between the ages of 16 and 66 who are suffering from an illness or disability which is expected to last at least 1 year, may qualify for disability allowance (DA). DA is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.