Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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222. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration might be given to the existence of a partnership in the case of a person (details supplied) whose pension entitlements do not allow them qualify for a pension in their own right notwithstanding extended correspondence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23509/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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To qualify for state pension (contributory) a person must have at least 520 full-rate social insurance (PRSI) contributions paid since entering insurable employment. 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 61 full-rate contributions. From the information provided to officials in my department by the person concerned and their spouse, the person concerned was exempted from PRSI liability in respect of their working activity with their spouse and, therefore, reckonable contributions were not attributed for the period of this working activity. The type of employments exempted from PRSI liability are listed in schedule 1, part 2, section 1 of the social welfare (consolidation) act 2005 (as amended).

Since their contributions fall short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for the standard state pension (contributory). The person concerned was notified of this decision on 20 December 2023.

I introduced a number of reforms to the state pension (contributory) including a provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years (1040 weeks). If the person concerned has been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years, they can apply for long-term carers contributions (LTCC). If the criteria are met, the equivalent of paid contributions may be attributed to cover gaps in their contribution record. The periods of caregiving do not need to be consecutive.

The quickest way to apply for LTCCs is online at MyWelfare.ie if the person has a verified MyGovID account. Further information is available on the Government website at gov.ie/pensions.

The person concerned applied for a state pension (non-contributory) in January 2024. Officials in my department requested further information to support the application. As this was not submitted to my department, the application was disallowed. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 8 May 2024. It is still open to them to submit the requested information. On receipt of this, their entitlement to state pension (non-contributory) will be reviewed.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.