Written answer
Pension Provisions
A person was refused the State pension (contributory) because they had 366 of the required 520 paid contributions; homemaker and homecaring credits cannot meet that threshold, and they did not qualify for the long-term carers’ provision. They may build further contributions, or apply for a means-tested non-contributory pension or qualified adult allowance.
796. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is not entitled for a State pension (contributory) despite the fact that they provided care for their children in the home for a number of years; and if this case will be reviewed. [65882/26]
Comment on this
797. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) would be entitled to receive another State payment given it was concluded that they do not qualify for the State pension (contributory); and if any such support would be available to them. [65884/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 796 and 797 together.
An application for state pension contributory was received from the person concerned on 21 March 2025, the date they reached pension age.
To qualify for the standard state pension contributory, a minimum of 520 paid contributions is required. The records of my Department show that the person concerned has 366 paid contributions which falls short of the minimum requirement.
Flexible pension arrangements are available for people who turn 66 on or after 1 January 2024. State pension may now be claimed from any date between the age of 66 and 70. It is therefore open to the person concerned to acquire additional contributions to qualify and claim the State pension at a later date between the age of 66 and 70. Based on the current requirement of 520 paid contributions, an additional 154 contributions are required to qualify.
HomeMakers and HomeCaring Periods have been awarded to the person concerned. These can be used to improve a person’s rate of pension once all other qualifying conditions are met. They cannot however be used to satisfy the requirement to have 520 full rate paid contributions.
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. For Long-Term Carers contributions to be reckonable for state pension, at least 1040 weeks (20 years) are required. Unfortunately, the person concerned did not meet the qualifying conditions for this scheme.
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:
• State pension non-contributory, which is a means-tested payment with a maximum rate of 96% of the maximum state pension contributory rate; or
• An Increase for a Qualified Adult allowance, where a spouse or partner is in receipt of State Pension contributory. This maximum rate of this increase is equivalent to 90% of the maximum State Pension contributory rate and is assessed on the means of the qualified adult only. It may also be paid directly to the qualified adult.
• The quickest way to apply for state pension non-contributory is online through MyWelfare.ie. I have also arranged for an application form for the increase in respect of a qualified adult to issue to the person concerned.
• I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.