Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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244. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a State pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48969/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 13 May 2020. Their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 6 September 2022.

According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 1,014 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions which equates to a yearly average of 21 contributions. This gives entitlement to standard State Pension (contributory) of €215.70 from 07 March 2022 which is 85% of the maximum rate. They were notified of this decision in writing on 30 September 2022.

The award date of 07 March 2022 allows for the maximum backdating of six months from the date of receipt of the original application.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a pro-rata State pension (contributory) by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48970/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 17 March 2022. An application for the State Pension Contributory was received on 6 April 2022.

The person concerned has a total of 652 reckonable paid and credited contributions. A homemakers disregard has also been applied from 01 September 1997 to 09 February 2007. This gives them a yearly average of 16 contributions. giving them an entitlement to the State Pension (contributory) at the weekly rate of €165.10 from 17 March 2022. They were notified in writing of this decision on 03 October 2022.

A copy of the person’s contribution record and an application on their behalf was forwarded to the Department for Work and Pensions in the UK on 7 June 2022. On receipt of information from the UK, their entitlement to a pro-rata pension will be examined and they will be notified of the decision in due course.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.