Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
185. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person's long term caring contributions and homemaker's credits can be used towards accessing the invalidity pension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22768/26]
View answerThis Government recognises the important role that carers play and is committed to supporting them. My Department's State Pension (Contributory) system provides a range of measures to recognise caring periods outside of paid employment, such as PRSI credits, Homemaker's Disregards, and HomeCaring Periods which provide caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate, where a person has a minimum of 10 years’ paid social insurance contributions.
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 State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can be used to fill any gaps in a person's contribution record, including satisfying the minimum 10 years’ contributions required for eligibility.
Social welfare legislation provides that the three Pension Caring Supports – Long Term Caring Contributions, Homemaker's Disregards, and HomeCaring periods are used solely for the purpose of the State Pension (Contributory). Accordingly, they cannot be applied to other social welfare benefit payments such as Invalidity Pension.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment for people aged under 66 who cannot work due a long-term illness or disability. It is payable for people who have the required social insurance contributions, and it is not means tested. To qualify, the person 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 or must be permanently incapable of work.
