Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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500. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants whose applications for the State pension have been deemed unsuccessful in the past three years on the grounds of insufficient contributions or a lack of the minimum requirement in terms of overall contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24998/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under current eligibility conditions, applicants must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard State pension (contributory).

Pension entitlement depends on factors such as a person’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and countries of employment. Depending on an individual’s social insurance history, their entitlement may be assessed under a number of calculations. Where an individual satisfies the criteria under more than one calculation, the most financially beneficial rate of pension is awarded.

Below are the number of State pension (contributory) claims that remain disallowed in each of the past three years. These figures do not include applicants who have since passed away.

Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a state pension (contributory), or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:

• The State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment. The maximum rate is equivalent to 95% of the full rate State Pension (contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult, equivalent to 90% of the full rate State Pension (contributory) where their spouse/partner is in receipt of this pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which can be based on either their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the State pension (contributory), and the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 is the same rate as the state pension (contributory), with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.