Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1467. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he will consider granting a person (details supplied) additional PRSI credits for the purposes of the State pension (contributory) for the period where they were caring for their parent full-time and in receipt of carer’s allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20702/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.

Credited contributions (credits) are social insurance contributions designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment. They must have paid PRSI contributions at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.

However, if at any stage in their working life, a person has no PRSI paid or credited contributions for two full tax years, they cannot be awarded credits again until they return to work and pay PRSI contributions for at least 26 weeks. Therefore, for a Carer to qualify for credits, there must not have been a break of over two years since they last had a paid or credited contribution and the commencement of their entitlement to CA.

The person concerned was in receipt of CA from 04 December 2014 to 24 August 2016. Their entitlement to credits has been examined and I can confirm they do not qualify for credits as they did not have any contributions paid or credited for a period over two years prior to their claim for CA.

The person concerned may have an entitlement to Homemakers Credits. Credits given under the Homemakers Scheme can only be used for State Pension Contributory. Applications can be made online via my Departments web page MyWelfare.ie or by contacting Pension Caring Supports on 0818690690.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.