Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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225. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will be informed of the outcome of deliberations of the new pension payment rates for women who cared for children at home. [17865/19]

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)  pension calculation which includes provision for HomeCaring periods. 

The person concerned has been awarded the maximum possible number of HomeCaring periods in respect of time parenting their children.  The person has 960 reckonable paid contributions which combined with reckonable credits and their HomeCaring periods results in a payment rate of 75.38% of the maximum rate pension.  As the person is already in receipt of an 85% rate of payment,  it is more financially beneficial for them to remain in their existing rate of payment. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.