Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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227. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed, given this individual was incorrectly placed on the non-contributory pension in 2013 and did not receive full back payment when awarded the contributory pension in 2020. [3066/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person’s pension entitlement has now been reviewed, and they have been awarded State pension (contributory) with effect from their 66^thbirthday.

According to the records available to my Department, the person has a total of 2,365 qualifying paid and credited contributions from 1965 to 2015. Under the yearly average calculation, this equates to a yearly average of 47. The person concerned therefore qualifies for State pension (contributory) at 98% of the maximum rate of pension from 20 March 2015.

Since the person was born after 1 September 1946, their pension entitlement has also been reviewed under the Total Contributions Approach (TCA). Where the outcome of a TCA review results in an increase in State pension (contributory) entitlement, the increase can be backdated to 30 March 2018 at the earliest under social welfare legislation.

Under the TCA the person concerned qualifies for the maximum rate of State pension (contributory), which has been awarded with effect from 30 March 2018.

The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 18 January 2021. Arrears due will issue shortly.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.