Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

State Pensions

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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648. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if all contributions for the purpose of calculation of an entitlement for the State pension (contributory) have been accounted for in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34079/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 19 April 2022. They applied for State pension (contributory) on 23 March 2022. According to the records of my Department they have a total of 490 reckonable paid contributions and 126 credited social insurance contributions. As these contributions fall short of the required 520 paid full-rate contributions, this person does not qualify for standard State pension (contributory).

As the person concerned was employed in the public sector for the tax years from 1979/80 to 2010, during which period modified contributions were payable, their entitlement to a mixed insurance pro rata State pension (contributory) was also determined, based on their combined modified and full-rate social insurance records.

The pro rata pension entitlement of the person concerned was assessed as 27.04% of the maximum pension rate, based on their combined social insurance record of full-rate contributions and credits plus modified-rate contributions. This pension is currently in payment and is the correct rate of pension commensurate with their contribution history. In the calculation formula for a mixed insurance pro rata state pension, the more full-rate contributions that a person has, the higher the rate of state pension payable. Conversely, the more modified contributions used in the calculation, the lower the rate of pension payable. The person concerned was provided with a copy of their social insurance record on which the decision was based.

The person concerned may wish to consider applying for State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested pension, the maximum rate of which is approximately 95% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory).

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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