Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a review of the pension for a person (details supplied) can be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9095/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 20 October 2021 and applied for State pension (contributory) on 4 August 2021. Determination of pension eligibility depends on the individual nature of an applicant’s social insurance record. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a self-employment record since the 2014 tax year.

Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor is regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) where the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one contribution year prior to reaching pension age (currently 66 years), and all self-employment contributions payable are paid.

Where outstanding self-employment contributions are paid subsequent to an applicant’s reaching pension age, State pension (contributory) will be awarded from the date on which self-employment liabilities are deemed as discharged.

The person’s application was disallowed on 4 October 2021 as they had self-employment liabilities outstanding for the 2019 tax year. They were informed of this decision in writing and advised to contact my Department when these liabilities were paid. According to the records of my Department, the date of settlement of the person’s self-employment liabilities was 11 January 2022.

The person’s social insurance record was updated accordingly, and State pension (contributory) was awarded from 11 January 2022 when the legislative eligibility conditions for receipt of pension were satisfied.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.