Written answers

Tuesday, 16 November 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Insurance

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be given credited contributions for periods they were unemployed in 2018 and 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55938/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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. If, at any stage since starting work, a person has no PRSI contributions paid or credited for 2 full tax years in a row, that person cannot get credits until he/she returns to work and pays PRSI contributions for 26 weeks. Contributions paid at Classes J, K, M or S cannot be used to satisfy this condition. If a self-employed person has only ever paid Class S PRSI contributions then he or she is not entitled to credits. If the person can no longer pay Class S PRSI due to illness, unemployment or if income from self-employment falls below €5,000, he or she does not qualify for credits.

As per the Departments records, the person concerned paid Class S contributions from 2012 to 2017. They have paid Class A PRSI in 2019. They do not have an entitlement to credits in 2018 as the previous employment was at Class S ( Self employed). If this person wishes to continue to contribute towards a State Pension he or she may opt to pay voluntary contributions for the period of employment following their self employment . It should be noted that voluntary contributions do not cover short term benefits such as Illness, Jobseekers, Maternity, Occupational Injuries, Dental and Optical Treatment Benefits. A person can apply to make voluntary contribution within 60 months (5 years) of the end of the last completed tax year (contribution year) during which they paid compulsory insurance or were last awarded a credited contribution.

The person concerned has 31 A contributions paid in 2019 and is now eligible to apply for credits during a period of unemployment . The person concerned should contact their local Intreo Centre when their employment ceases to confirm their entitlements at that time.

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