Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
621. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department can be flexible when considering an application (details supplied); and if he will consider amending the relevant legislation to ensure that women born before 1946 are eligible for the home carer scheme. [16237/26]
View answerFrom September 2012, the rates of State Pension (Contributory) paid to those who had a Yearly Average of less than 40 contributions was lowered for all applicants from that date.
As a result, people whose pensions were decided under the 2000-2012 rate bands (i.e., those born before 1 September 1946) were subject to a more generous payment regime than those who qualified afterwards, as a Yearly Average of only 20 contributions per year (out of a possible maximum of 52) could attract a 98% pension.
In recognition that these rate changes may have negatively impacted certain cohorts, in January 2018, the then Government announced an Interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to calculate the entitlement of pensioners who reached State pension age on or after 1 September 2012 (i.e., those born on or after 1 September 1946) and who had a reduced rate pension entitlement based on those post Budget 2012 rate bands. As part of the Total Contributions Approach, HomeCaring Periods were introduced for the first time which allowed those who cared for children, or other dependent relatives, claim up to 20 years in lieu of contributions, provided they had a minimum of 520 paid contributions.
If pre-2012 pensioners were also allowed avail of the interim Total Contributions Approach, including HomeCaring Periods, their arrangements, as a group, would be significantly more generous than those of post-2012 pensioners.
It should be noted that 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 will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) 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. Individuals born before 1946 are eligible for long-term carer's contributions where they have been caring for an incapacitated dependent.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (Contributory) 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 96% of the State Pension (Contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (IQA) (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse, civil partner or qualifying cohabitant is deceased, a Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC for the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over.
This combination of both the Contributory, Non-Contributory State pensions and the IQA means that no person with a viable income need falls outside these schemes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
