Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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530. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a pension rate for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14799/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Since late September 2018, my Department has been examining the social insurance records of approximately 90,000 pensioners, born on or after 1 September 1946, who have a reduced rate State pension contributory entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate-bands.  These payments are being reviewed under a new Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to pension calculation which includes provision for homecaring periods.

The person concerned applied for HomeCaring Periods to my Department and all of the periods applied for have been awarded.  The person has 740 reckonable paid contributions which combined with the maximum permissible number of HomeCaring periods and reckonable credits of 1,040,  as set out in legislation, results in an increase from 85% to 85.58% of maximum rate of pension.  

A review outcome letter has issued to the person, outlining details of their increase in payment and includes a breakdown of their social insurance contribution record.  

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.