Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2024
136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the criteria necessary to qualify; and to provide a breakdown of the number of people that were in receipt of the invalidity pensions in 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [24249/24]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
Applicants must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) or be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, you can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from your job to Invalidity Pension).
Applicants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The table below shows the number of people in receipt of IP in the periods as requested:
|
Total number in receipt of IP |
|
|
End December 2020 |
59,230 |
|
End December 2021 |
57,874 |
|
End December 2022 |
56,452 |
|
End December 2023 |
56,650 |
|
End of April 2024 |
56,945 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
