Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that ongoing pension reviews of the over 80’s are causing great anxiety and distress; if he will act to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21717/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a commitment to an annual level of control reviews and operates an ongoing continuous schedule of control and review activity for those in receipt of a pension.

The objective is to ensure that customers on a pension, regardless of age, continue to receive their correct rate of payment over the lifetime of their claim. On review, claimants on a means tested payment or in receipt of a means tested allowance may have their weekly payment rate unchanged or adjusted upwards or downwards as appropriate, based on their up-to-date means assessment.

Reviews can arise from customer requests for a review of their claim, from targeted and random case selections, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department. Factors such as length of time since last review, or where information is received from other agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners, or from members of the public, can also trigger control reviews.

Information letters are issued annually from the State Pension Non-Contributory areas to a proportion of recipients, on a rolling basis, to remind them of the conditions for continuing receipt of their payment and their obligation to notify the Department of changes in their circumstances in a timely manner.

My Department understands the many pressures faced by people and always seeks to ensure that reviews are processed quickly and efficiently. Each decision made following a review is open to a review and/or an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals office.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.