Written answers

Thursday, 3 May 2018

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

State Pension (Contributory)

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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28. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the circumstances under which or the reason a person can avail of ten years credited contributions as distinct from the 20 years allowed for homemaking and caring duties regarding the forthcoming total contributions approach for the contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19252/18]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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PRSI contributions can be credited to people in a number of contexts, for example when in receipt of a Jobseekers or Illness benefit payments. Where applicable, these may be used towards PRSI-based social protection payments, including the State pension contributory (SPC). Not all classes of paid or credited contributions are reckonable for a State pension contributory, e.g., those of a civil servant who paid the reduced Class B rate would provide no SPC coverage.

Under the interim Total Contributions Approach announced in January, a person who reached pension age after 1 September 2012 (i.e. who is among those affected by the new ratebands introduced from that date) and who has a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits, will qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. Up to 20 years of HomeCaring credits, and/or 10 years of other qualifying credits, for example when unemployed or ill, may be used, subject to the total number of credits not exceeding 20 years.

So, for example, a person might receive a maximum pension based on 20 years paid PRSI contributions, 5 years jobseeker credits, and 15 years HomeCaring Credits, over a 50 year period.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Comments

Monica Condron
Posted on 4 May 2018 9:43 pm (Report this comment)

The minister nor anybody in government ever explains why state and semi state employees were not paying a stamp and then PRSI at the same rate as all private employees in similar employment and pay levels. This left these employees who left because of the marriage bar or to take care of their home with absolutely no entitlement to any benefits; unemployment, sickness, dental, medical or pension contributions. Of course these were nearly all women and as is being shown over and over again in this country women just don't matter.
Why have the unions nor any political party ever taken this on as an issue.

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