John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for the State pension (contributory) in the name of a person (details supplied);and if their years as a homemaker and foster carer will be considered. [38917/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned reached pension age on 7 December 2024. An application for State pension (contributory) was received on 1 November 2024.

To be eligible for the State pension (contributory), an individual must have at least 520 paid contributions. The records of my Department show the person concerned has 434 paid contributions which falls short of the minimum requirement.

The enhanced State pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more was introduced from 1 January 2024. If the person concerned has over 20 years of caring for an incapacitated person, Long-Term Carers Contributions will be included in their pension calculations. An online application for Long-Term Carers Contributions is available on MyWelfare. I have also arranged for an application form to issue. If the person concerned is awarded Long-Term Carers Contributions for 20 years or more, my Department will review their entitlement.

Where a person does not qualify for State pension (contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, it is open to them to apply for one of the following:

• State pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum rate of payment of 95% of the State pension (contributory); or
• A spouse or partner in receipt of State pension (contributory) could apply for an increase for a qualified adult with their pension, amounting to up to 90% of a full rate State pension (contributory) pension. This increase is means assessed on the means of the qualified adult only and may be paid separately to the qualified adult.