Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The spouse of the person concerned was in receipt of an Increase for a qualified adult payment on their State pension (Contributory) from 2008 to October 2022.

An increase for a qualified adult is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.  Where a qualified adult has weekly means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to the payment.  

As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means tested payments are carried out.  Following a recent review, the increase for the qualified adult was stopped as the means exceeded the limit for this payment. 

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory).  According to the records of my Department the person concerned has a total of 381 full-rate contributions.  I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance record to issue to them.  If the person considers that additional contributions or credits have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department.

As my Department has not received an application for State pension (contributory) from the person concerned.  I have arranged for an application form to issue to them. On receipt of the completed application form their entitlement will be examined.

It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the means-tested State pension (non-contributory).  The maximum rate of this pension is set at approximately 95% of the State pension (contributory) rate.  I have arranged for an application form for State pension (non-contributory) to issue to them

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.