Written answers

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Joe CareyJoe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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381. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will contact the UK authorities in order to expedite the required records of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58352/21]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather 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 20 February 2020. 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.

The person in question does not have the required 260 paid PRSI contributions in Ireland. The claim was refused under national legislation on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. As the person concerned had previously worked in the United Kingdom (UK), a request was made to the UK Authorities for his UK contribution record. This information was requested from the UK Authorities on 24/10/2020, 25/2/2021, 10/6/21 and most recently on 14/10/2021. To date the requested information has not been received from the UK Authorities.

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.

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