Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Gary GannonGary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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968.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the considerations that will be given to a case (details supplied).[34729/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Invalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

To establish an IP entitlement, all applicants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance. Furthermore, applicants are required to have 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension application.

An application for IP was received from the person concerned on 18 October 2021. His claim was refused on 17 May 2022 on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. Specifically, he does not have any paid or credited contributions on his insurance record in either of the 2 years prior to the relevant date of his claim.

As the person referred to had indicated on his application for IP that he had worked in Germany, his contribution record was requested from the German Authorities on 5 October 2022. This was required to establish a possible entitlement to a pro-rata IP based on a combination of his social insurance records from both countries under governing EU social security regulations. An application for an equivalent IP payment from Germany was also submitted to the German Authorities on his behalf on the same date as is required under EU Regulations.

Following receipt of his contribution record form Germany, his entitlement was again examined to take account of his German social insurance credits and contributions. However, the qualifying contribution conditions for IP were still not met. The person was notified of this decision on 7 November 2023.

The German Authorities requested a medical report for the person concerned for his application in that country. The detailed medical report has been completed and was sent to the German Authorities on 2 September 2024. In the meantime, he continues to receive a full rate Disability Allowance payment.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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