Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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577. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can avail of any purchase of credits, or avail of a State pension (non-contributory), despite the amount the person’s partner is earning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7227/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 17 April 2019. An application for the contributory State Pension was received on 18 February 2019.

In general, public servants who joined prior to 6 April 1995 paid modified contributions which are not reckonable for the standard contributory State Pension. However, such employees generally have an occupational pension, the level of which is related to a number of factors, including years of service.

To be eligible for the standard contributory State Pension, an individual must have at least 520 full-rate contributions. To qualify for a mixed insurance pension, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions.

According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 214 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite full rate contributions required for the standard contributory State Pension and the mixed insurance pension.

In order to be admitted as a Voluntary Contributor, a person must be under age 66 if they were born before 1 January 1958. As the person concerned is over age 66, they do not satisfy the conditions of the Voluntary Contribution Scheme.

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

If the person concerned has provided full-time care to incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more (1,040 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. Otherwise, the person concerned can request a pension caring supports application form by calling 01-4715898 or by email to pensioncaringsupports@welfare.ie.

It is open to the person concerned to apply for the non-contributory State Pension which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 95% of the contributory State Pension. This is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for the contributory State Pension, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means test, cash income, including foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds are assessable.

In order for their entitlement to be examined, it is necessary for the person concerned to complete and submit an application form. I have arranged for a non-contributory State Pension application form to issue. On receipt of the completed application form, their entitlement will be examined, and they will be notified of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.