Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

State Pension (Contributory)

Photo of Tom NevilleTom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter will be addressed regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8519/18]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned has previously had their entitlement to state pension (contributory) examined. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 1,133 reckonable paid and credited contributions, from 1965 to 2014 giving them a yearly average of 28. In arriving at this yearly average, disregards for homemaking periods were applied. This entitled the person concerned to a reduced rate pension entitlement.

However, the spouse of the person concerned qualified for an increase for qualified adult at a higher rate. As this was more financially advantageous, the increase for qualified adult in respect of the person concerned was awarded and paid.

The Deputy will be aware that the Government recently announced proposals that pensioners who qualified for state pension (contributory) since September 2012, and whose rate of entitlement was impacted by the 2012 rate band change, may apply for a review to have their entitlement considered under a new Total Contribution Approach (TCA). It will take some time to draft and pass the necessary legislation, and then develop the systems and procedures necessary to administer the new pension entitlement option. When this preparatory work is completed towards the end of 2018, the person concerned can apply for a review of their state pension (contributory) entitlement and the person will be notified of the outcome of that review.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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