Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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729. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rights to social welfare a returning emigrant who worked in Ireland for 12 to 13 years before emigrating to the USA has; and the length of time they must be resident in Ireland again before they qualify for social welfare payments. [63813/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Emigrants who are returning to reside in Ireland have the same entitlement to access social welfare payments as Irish people who already reside in the country. Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement with the United States of America (USA). The main purpose of the bilateral agreements on social security is to protect the pension rights of persons who have paid social insurance contributions in Ireland and have reckonable periods in the other country. If the person has paid contributions both in the USA and in Ireland, the combined record may be considered for certain benefits.

If the returning emigrant does not have an entitlement to a social insurance contribution-based payment but meets all other scheme conditionality including the habitual residency condition, they may have an entitlement to a means tested social assistance payment. The person may also qualify for benefits such as Free Travel and Household Benefits, subject to satisfying those qualifying conditions.

If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he can bring it to the attention of my Department by emailing ims@welfare.ie

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.