Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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935. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection for an update on a pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17739/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is in receipt of the State Pension (contributory) at the maximum weekly personal rate of €265.30.  The increase for a qualified adult on their State Pension (contributory) was paid to 30 June 2022. 

An increase for 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 the means limit. Where a qualified adult has weekly means in excess of €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA 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 review, the qualified adult of the person concerned was assessed with personal means of €376.50 per week.  As this exceeded the allowable limit of €310.00, the qualified adult payment was stopped from 30 June 2022. 

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

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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936. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a State pension award in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was assessed under the total contribution approach and averaging; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17744/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 23 March 2015. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 7 March 2023.

State Pension (contributory) applications are assessed under the Yearly Average method and the Total Contributions Approach, with the most beneficial rate paid. 

The person concerned has a total of 773 reckonable contributions and 45 credits from their date of entry into insurable employment in 1965 to 2014 which equates to a yearly average of 16 contributions.  This gave entitlement to a reduced State Pension (contributory) at 65% of the maximum rate. A yearly average of 48 contributions is required to receive the maximum rate State Pension (contributory).

Entitlement using the Total Contributions Approach was also assessed. A total of 773 reckonable contributions combined with the maximum permissible number of Home Caring periods and reckonable credits of 1,040, gave a total of 1,813. This gave entitlement to 87.16% of the maximum rate State Pension (contributory).

The State Pension (contributory) was awarded using the Total Contributions Approach from 9 December 2022, the date on which the self-employment liability was deemed as discharged. The person concerned was notified in writing on 28 March 2023. A copy of their insurance record also issued. 

The person concerned is currently in receipt of the most financially beneficial rate of State pension (contributory) commensurate with their social insurance record.  If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.