Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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421. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status in respect of the payment of a State pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5431/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned has provided the required details for the bank account where they wish their State pension (contributory) to be paid.  Arrears due will issue to the person’s bank account by Friday, 5 February 2021 and pension payments will be made to that account each Friday.

The person concerned was notified accordingly in writing on 1 February 2021.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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422. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if home carers credits will be adjusted for the pension of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5439/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or adult who has such a disability that as a result, they require that level of care.

Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions.

Credits are awarded in circumstances such as unemployment or illness, and their purpose is to help protect the social insurance entitlements of insured persons during periods when they may not be in a position to pay contributions.

Persons in receipt of CA can qualify for credits where they have previously entered insurable employment and paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.In general credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce i.e. within the last 2 years.

The person concerned was in receipt of CA from 26 November 2009 to 29 January 2014.  The person’s entitlement to credits has been examined and I can confirm that she does not qualify for credits as she did not have any reckonable contributions paid or credited prior to  her claim  for  CA going into payment.Correspondence has issued to the person concerned on 28 January 2021 notifying her of same.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.