Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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386. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 1 October 2024, if she has plans to make a symbolic or compensatory payment to those who were previously excluded; and the number of family carers who have become eligible, following the changes to eligibility made. [41079/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As previously advised to the Deputy, under the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, since January 2024 long-term carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more. These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 paid contributions required for eligibility.

Long-term carer's contributions have been available to individuals who reached State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and are also available to those already aged 66 or over prior to that date.

In the case of those already over the age of 66, care periods provided for incapacitated dependents up to their 66th birthday are assessed for entitlement to long-term carer's contributions. Such a person can apply for long-term carer's contributions and receive a State Pension (Contributory) or an enhanced rate of pension if already in receipt of less than the maximum rate from 1st January 2024 where eligible.

At end September 2024, there have been 8,613 applications since the introduction of the scheme. 2,111 customers have been awarded over 20 years of long-term carers contributions, 1,437 of whom are aged over 66.

As a result of this, at end September 2024, 580 customers were awarded State Pension (Contributory) with 199 receiving an increase in the rate paid.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.