1947. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection to expedite plans to provide contributions for those in receipt of carer's allowance which would allow carers to qualify for a full State pension contributory. [55229/26]

The State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is funded from the Social Insurance Fund through the contributions paid by workers and employers.  The rate of payment reflects the number of social insurance contributions paid over a working life.  Eligibility for the SPC is based on a number of criteria:

• Being aged 66 or over.

• Having entered the Social Insurance system 10 years before you intend to drawdown your SPC.

• Having a minimum of 520 paid social insurance contributions (i.e., 10 years reckonable PRSI contributions).

This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role.  Accordingly, carers are not excluded from access to the SPC.  Once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the State Pension system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes extended periods outside of paid employment, often to raise families or in a full-time caring role including:

• PRSI credits (which include Credits for Carers Benefit and Carers Allowance), and

• Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.

Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependants faced barriers in accessing the SPC.

The previous Government established the Pensions Commission in November 2020 to review the State Pension system, examine the sustainability of the State Pension and the Social Insurance Fund and make recommendations for its future.  The Pensions Commission was also asked to consider how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependents can be accommodated within the State Pension system.  The Commission engaged in a public consultation process and had the benefit of presentations from Family Carer’s Ireland and the National Women’s Council in forming its recommendations on the proposals and the period of care.

The Commission recommended that long-term carers should be given access to the SPC and defined long-term caring as caring for more than 20 years.  Setting the criteria of more than 20 years is in recognition of the existing access to SPC for carers who may have up to 20 years of caring periods.

Since January 2024, Long-Term Carer's contributions can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years or more.  These contributions are treated the same as paid contributions for SPC entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 520 contributions required for eligibility. Any person in receipt of Carer's Allowance is needed to meet the qualifying criteria for Long-Term Carer's Contributions, subject to the condition of providing care for at least 20 years in total.

Where a person has less than 20 years caring, they may be entitled to avail of up to 20 years HomeCaring Periods or the Homemakers scheme or rely on PRSI credits subject to the existing qualification condition of having 520 paid contributions. All caring periods that are registered with my Department will be recorded on a person's contribution record, subject to a maximum of 520 credits (10 years), 1,040 HomeCaring Periods (20 years), and a maximum of 1,040 credits and HomeCaring Periods combined.

Collectively, these measures provide carers with access to the SPC, including the possibility of a maximum rate.

Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for the SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:

• The State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of just over 96% of the SPC; or

• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate SPC where their spouse has a contributory pension; or

• Where their spouse/civil partner or qualified cohabitant is deceased, a Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension, which they may claim either based on their deceased partner’s or their own social insurance record.  The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €299.30, i.e., the same as the maximum rate of the SPC, with allowances (notably the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.