Do Pre Entry Credits count

jack12a

Hello All

Do pre entry credits (pecs) count towards a contributory old age pension, I am currently trying to calculate my total prsi contributions, I have currently more than 520 paid contributions, on welfare web site it states pecs are credited to the beginning of the tax year which you first started paying prsi and the previous two years, in my case this would mean a total of 117 pecs, if these were included in my total count it would move onto a higher bracket of pension.
I would be grateful for any advise on this matter.

Regards,

danjo-xx

They don't count towards a state pension unfortunately.

Pre-entry credits when you start work

When you start work you are automatically given pre-entry credits. These credits are normally given once and cover you from the beginning of the tax year in which you start work, up to the actual date you start work. The credits also cover you for the two previous income tax years. Your pre-entry credits can help you to qualify for the following social insurance payments:

• Illness Benefit
• Jobseeker's Benefit
• Treatment Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Adoptive Benefit
• Health and Safety Benefit

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_insurance_prsi/credited_social_insurance_contributions.html

KJD28

They do count towards a pension in most cases the only case where they don't count is if you're applying for a Bilateral pension (Irish contributions combined with record from Australia, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Quebec, South Korea, Japan & Switzerland). In the case of State Pension Contributory only a maximum of 1 year PEC's are used in calculation. You can contact the State Pensions area in Sligo on 1890 500 000

ttsnar

Pre entry credits are not counted for pension purposes. They can be only used once towards cliams for short term benefits i.e Jobseekers or Illness.

KJD28

Unfortunately this info is incorrect if you would like to hear it directly from the horses mouth and have it in writing simply email them. As a new user I'm not allowed to post a link but you can email me or visit the welfare website. When emailing them be sure to enter "State Pension Contributory" into the subject line so your query will get to the correct area quicker!

ttsnar wrote: »

Pre entry credits are not counted for pension purposes. They can be only used once towards cliams for short term benefits i.e Jobseekers or Illness.

TSQ

KJD28 wrote: »

Unfortunately this info is incorrect if you would like to hear it directly from the horses mouth and have it in writing simply email them. As a new user I'm not allowed to post a link but you can email me or visit the welfare website. When emailing them be sure to enter "State Pension Contributory" into the subject line so your query will get to the correct area quicker!

Realise I am late coming to this discussion, but @KJD28 if you are still on Boards, you seem to know about this subject and perhaps you can clarify: for someone who started work pre-dating the current calendar year tax regime, are the pre-entry tax credits backdated to the beginning of April (previous tax year was 1 April to 31 March) or to the beginning of the calendar year, e.g. 1 January 1980 or 1 April 1980?

Also, you mention that a maximum of 1 year of tax credits given for the contributary OAP.. do you mean a maximum of 12 months, or do you mean a maximum up to the beginning of the year in which you started work? For example if starting work in May 1980, do you get extra tax credits back to May 1979 (12 months) or only to 1980?

Fingers crossed someone still watching this thread!

TSQ

TSQ wrote: »

Realise I am late coming to this discussion, but @KJD28 if you are still on Boards, you seem to know about this subject and perhaps you can clarify: for someone who started work pre-dating the current calendar year tax regime, are the pre-entry tax credits backdated to the beginning of April (previous tax year was 1 April to 31 March) or to the beginning of the calendar year, e.g. 1 January 1980 or 1 April 1980?

Also, you mention that a maximum of 1 year of tax credits given for the contributary OAP.. do you mean a maximum of 12 months, or do you mean a maximum up to the beginning of the year in which you started work? For example if starting work in May 1980, do you get extra tax credits back to May 1979 (12 months) or only to 1980?

Fingers crossed someone still watching this thread!

Actually, think I just figured this out myself... you get credits to bring your contributions up to total of 52 for the year in which you started work.