Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Pension Provisions

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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853. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the contributory pension case of a person (details supplied). [46550/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned turned pension age on 21 November 2022. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 19 September 2024.

The person concerned was awarded State Pension (contributory) based on their contribution record which showed they had 1,105 Long Term Carers Contributions and 14 non-caring credited contributions. This equated to a Yearly Average of 23 which gives entitlement to 85% of the maximum rate of pension. An award letter issued on 17 December 2024 via their MyWelfare account.

This pension was awarded with effect from 20 March 2024 which includes the standard six months backdating allowable under legislation.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Photo of Paul McAuliffePaul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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854. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the contributory pension entitlements of a person (details supplied). [46553/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 17 May 2019.

Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory). 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 251 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State Pension (contributory).

To qualify for a Mixed Insurance pension based on their full-rate and modified-rate contributions, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified rate contributions. As the person concerned has 251 full-rate contributions, this falls short of the requisite 260 full-rate contributions needed for the Mixed Insurance pension.

I have arranged for a copy of their record to issue. If the person concerned considers that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their record can be reviewed.

It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested, residency-based payment for people of pension age. The maximum personal weekly rate is €278.00 which is approximately 95% of the maximum rate of contributory pension.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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