Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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464. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position for mature students returning to full-time education who wish to also keep claiming for social welfare credits towards their pension as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43278/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The primary purpose of credited employment contributions is to preserve the continuity of a person’s insurance record during periods when they are unable to work and pay social insurance contributions in the normal way for reasons including illness or unemployment.

Similar to other schemes operated by the Department, there are qualifying conditions which must be met before a person can be allocated credited employment contributions. In order to qualify for credited employment contributions, absences from work would have to arise due to notified incapacity for work, proven unemployment, or periods during which the person was in receipt of certain other social welfare payments. From the limited information provided it may be that the person concerned voluntarily left employment to attend third-level education. If this is the case the person may not meet the criteria to qualify for credited employment contributions.

Persons under the pensionable age of 66 who cease to be covered by compulsory social insurance either as an employee or as a self-employed person may opt to become insured on a voluntary basis and pay voluntary contributions provided certain contribution conditions are satisfied. Voluntary contributions act to maintain a person’s established social insurance record in respect to eligibility for State pensions in the future.

The voluntary contributions section in my Department can be contacted via e-mail to volcons@welfare.ie should the person concerned wish to enquire as to her eligibility to become a voluntary contributor.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.