Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are plans to include carer’s benefit and carer’s allowance as credited contributions for the purposes of pension entitlement calculation, as those caring are effectively doing a 35-hour week to the detriment of their being able to work outside the home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30080/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). They may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 520 paid contributions.

I was very pleased that legislation to give effect to a number of important State Pension reforms was enacted last December. An key measure introduced under this legislation is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years.

Since January 2024, long-term carers contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years (1040 weeks) and these contributions can be used towards the calculation of their State Pension (Contributory) entitlement. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record. These long-term carers contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can, where there are gaps in paid contributions, be used to satisfy the minimum 520 qualifying contributions condition.

Where a person reaches State Pension age and 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:

1. The 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
2. An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
3. 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. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the State Pension (Contributory) and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €277.30, i.e., the same as the maximum rate of the State Pension (Contributory), with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.