Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the eligible social welfare contributions for entitlement to the State pension (contributory) or the State pension (non-contributory) in the case of a person (details supplied); if they should follow a particular procedure, given that they were a member of a religious order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27788/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned will reach pension age in 2026.

An individual’s state pension (contributory) entitlement depends on factors such as a person’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce and their countries of employment. It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life.

As the person concerned was born on or after 01 January 1958, they have the option to claim their State Pension (contributory) on any date between the age of 66 and 70. These new arrangements may help them to qualify for state pension (contributory) or to receive a higher rate of pension.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have at least 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for the standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.

If a person does not qualify for the standard state pension (contributory) and has worked in a country with which Ireland has a Bilateral agreement or one or more EU countries, they may qualify for a pro-rata pension. To qualify for a pro-rata pension their social insurance record from one of these countries can be combined with their Irish insurance record to satisfy the conditions.

If the person concerned has provided full time care to incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more (1040 weeks), it is open to them to apply for long-term carers contributions. If eligible, the equivalent of paid contributions will 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 long-term carers contributions is online at MyWelfare.ie.

I have arranged for a copy of the social insurance record of the person concerned to issue 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.

Further information about the changes in State pension (contributory) and long-term carers contributions are available on the Government website at gov.ie/pensions.

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 the state pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 96% of the state pension (contributory).

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.