Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned will reach pension age on 26 January 2024.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not applied for State Pension (contributory).

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 247 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State pension (contributory).

To qualify for a mixed insurance pension based on their full-rate and modified rate contributions, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified rate contributions. As the person concerned has 247 full-rate contributions, this falls short of the requisite 260 full rate contributions required for the mixed insurance pension.

As the person concerned is a public servant paying PRSI at Class B, their self-employed income is liable for PRSI contributions at Class K which is not reckonable for the State Pension (contributory).

I have arranged for a copy of their social insurance record to issue to them along with a detailed explanatory note to assist in understanding their record, and information on how to calculate entitlement to State pension (contributory). If they consider that there are additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384.

I am introducing a number of changes and flexibility to the pension system from January 2024. The person concerned can decide what best suits their needs and circumstances. It will be open to them to work longer and defer drawing down their pension in order to accumulate sufficient contributions to qualify for the State Pension (contributory). Further information in relation to the changes to State pension (contributory) is available on the Government website at gov.ie/pension.

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 means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State pension (contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (contributory) pension where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.