John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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590. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [10464/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 09 October 2020. It has been decided that the person satisfies the medical criteria for IP. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution years before the relevant date of their claim. It was decided the relevant date of the claim in question is 2020 and he does not have the required 48 paid or credited contributions in the last or second last year before the relevant date of his claim. The claim was refused under the governing legislation on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. As he last worked in Spain, a request was sent to the Spanish Authorities on 10 February 2021 for his Spanish insurance record.

Unfortunately, claims processed under Bilateral/EU Regulations are more complex and can take longer to finalise as the Department is highly dependent on receiving necessary information from other States. The Department will continue to endeavour to establish the entitlement of the person in question and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.