John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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553. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has enough contributions to apply for an invalidity pension. [27780/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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The lady concerned is currently in receipt of a disability allowance payment from my Department at a reduced rate, because of her means.

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 or second last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E, H or S contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

A claimant must also be regarded as permanently incapable of work, which is defined as: incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be incapable of work for life, or an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim, and where the Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the claimant is likely to be unable to work for 1 year from the date of claim.

According to the Department's records, it appears that this lady satisfies the PRSI contribution criteria for IP. However, entitlement to IP can only be definitively determined on receipt of a completed application form. An application form issued to her on 25 June 2018. On receipt of the completed form, a decision on her eligibility will be made and she will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.