John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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939. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the category of insurance contributions made by a person (details supplied) for the period they worked in the HSE qualifies them for an invalidity pension; and if their record of contributions will be provided. [1030/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason. Applicants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.

An application for IP was received from the person concerned on 3 July 2023. It was decided that the relevant contribution year in his case is 2021. According to the Department’s records, this person has only Class D contributions paid in the relevant contribution period. The person does not have the required contributions at Class A, E, H or S in either of the 2 years immediately prior to the relevant date and IP is not a scheme for which Class D employment contributions are reckonable. This application was refused on 25 August 2023 on the grounds that the qualifying contribution conditions for IP were not met. The person in question was notified of the decision on 25 August 2023 and of their right to request a review and/or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) within 21 days.

The person concerned requested a review of the decision to refuse his application on 12 September 2023.His application was reviewed and his medical eligibility for the scheme was confirmed. However, a Deciding Officer (DO) again decided on 25 September 2023 that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person in question was notified of this decision on 25 September 2023 and of their right to request a review and/or to appeal the decision to the SWAO within 21 days.

The person in question has appealed the decision to disallow their claim and a further review of all the information available has been undertaken. However, a DO has decided that there is no change to the original decision. He was notified on 9 January 2024 of the outcome of the review and his file was submitted to SWAO on 9 January 2024 for further determination by an Appeals Officer. A copy of the contribution record for the person concerned is set out below. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

An Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí Department of Social Protection

Contribution Statement Date of Entry: 04-02-1980