Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1140. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of voluntary contributions by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2964/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned will reach pension age in April 2020. They have not applied for state pension (contributory). It is not possible to determine a person's entitlement to pension in the absence of a completed application form.

They should submit an application for state pension (contributory) without delay. Upon receipt of their application, their contribution record will be fully investigated and they will be notified of the outcome.

Their application for the means-tested, residency-based State pension (non-contributory) was received by my Department on 27 January 2020 and is currently under investigation.

If it is determined that the person concerned satisfies the qualifying conditions for both the State pension (contributory) and the State pension (non-contributory), they will be awarded whichever is the more financially beneficial.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.