John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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333. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is not on the full rate of payment of invalidity pension; and if the claim will be re-examined with a view to paying the maximum benefit and back dating same. [17289/18]

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.

To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim.

The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on the 15 April 2011. He was ineligible for IP under national legislation on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.

EU Regulations provide that insurance contributions made in any other EU Member State may be aggregated with Irish contributions in order to satisfy the contribution conditions for payment of a pro-rata IP. A request was sent to the Polish social security authorities requesting his Polish insurance record. Receipt of this information confirmed that he satisfied the contribution criteria for IP under EU Regulations and as he satisfied all other qualifying conditions the person concerned was awarded a pro-rata IP from the 21 April 2011. He qualified for pro-rata IP at 35.99% of the basic rate thus entitling him a reduced rate and he receives an increase for a qualified child payable at half rate.

Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie. An application form for DA has issued to the gentleman concerned should he wish to apply.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.