Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1684. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of requests made by her Department to the Revenue Commissioners in each of the past five years in respect of self-employed persons applying for the contributory old age pension regarding their payment of PRSI and taxation liabilities; the number of contributory old age pensions that have not been approved as a result of the information in the same time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1985/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s complete social insurance record and satisfaction of the eligibility conditions for the scheme applicable on the date the applicant reaches pension age.

Social welfare legislation provides that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions for state pension (contributory) unless all outstanding self-employment contributions have been paid. Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant’s reaching pension age, state pension (contributory) entitlement is payable from the date on which self-employment liability has been fully discharged.

At applicant stage, the contribution records of all applicants are examined. Where there are gaps in the record of a self-employed contributor, investigation is required to ensure that all liabilities have been paid in full to the Revenue Commissioners and the date from which outstanding liabilities have been paid in full.

The following table shows the number of cases referred to Client Eligibility Services for investigation:

The most recent available figures for the number of state pension (contributory) applications disallowed for outstanding liability reasons in each of the past five years is shown in the table below. The table also shows the number of applicants who remain disallowed to date. (These figures may include applicants who have subsequently died.)

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.