Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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475. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update in relation to the entitlement of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8458/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 14 November 2020.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department the person concerned has a total of 221 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 paid full-rate contributions.

Entitlement to a Mixed Insurance pro-rata State Pension (contributory) was examined. As the person concerned did not have the required 260 paid full-rate contributions to qualify, this claim was disallowed. They were notified in writing on 06 October 2020 and provided with a copy of their social insurance record.

The person concerned appealed the decision on 11 November 2020 to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office; the appeal was disallowed, and they were notified of the outcome in writing.

While the person has paid self-employment (Class S) contributions, they have not paid any self-employment contributions before age 66. Under social welfare legislation, a self-employed contributor will not be regarded as satisfying the contribution conditions for State pension (contributory) unless the person has paid self-employment contributions in respect of at least one year prior to reaching age 66 and all self-employment contributions payable have been paid. As the person concerned does not have at least one year of self-employment contributions paid prior to their 66th birthday, their self-employment contributions cannot be used when assessing entitlement to State pension (contributory). The person concerned was notified in writing on 16/02/2023.

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 and their application will be reviewed. It is also open to them to apply for State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested, residency-based payment for people of pension age. The maximum personal rate is approximately 95% of the maximum rate of contributory pension. I have arranged for an application form to issue.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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476. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will have their application for their disability allowance approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8463/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.

I can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 29 December 2022.

The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

An information request letter was sent to the person concerned on 13 January 2023 to complete the DA application in full and to supply supporting documentation to determine their eligibility for DA. The requested information was received on 01 February 2023.

A further letter was sent to the person concerned on 16 February 2023 to supply additional supporting documentation and allowed 21 days for the return of the information.

On receipt of this information, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.