Not enough PRSI contributions for contributory pension

Hols22

Hi guys,

Hope someone has some good advice to offer. My mam has applied for the state contributory pension, she has 516 contributions and she needs 520 so she is short 4. Does anyone have any idea how we can make up the shortfall. She is over 66 so she cant gain it from employment now. Thanks

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Hols22 wrote: »

Hi guys,

Hope someone has some good advice to offer. My mam has applied for the state contributory pension, she has 516 contributions and she needs 520 so she is short 4. Does anyone have any idea how we can make up the shortfall. She is over 66 so she cant gain it from employment now. Thanks

Could she get non contributory ?
Ask a mod to move you to state benefits forum

Hols22

Thanks Tatranska, she cant get non contributory as my dad is still working so she doesn't pass the means test.

Hols22

Hi Moderator, can you please move my thread to the state benefits forum? Thanks

wokingvoter

Hi. Sorry to tell you there's nothing can be done about it at all.
She could go ahead and apply for the non con anyway.
The first €200 of your dads weekly wages will be disregarded, as long as he's not self employed.
When will your dad be 66?

Hols22

He won't be 66 for another year, he is going on a 3 day week to wind down for retiremnt so Ill try apply for the non-contributory. Thanks

wokingvoter

Hols22 wrote: »

He won't be 66 for another year, he is going on a 3 day week to wind down for retiremnt so Ill try apply for the non-contributory. Thanks

Is he going to get the pension at the max rate ? If he is and your mam passes the means test then he can claim for her and she will get €209 per week as his dependent , when he is 66

Necro

Hols22 wrote:

Hope someone has some good advice to offer. My mam has applied for the state contributory pension, she has 516 contributions and she needs 520 so she is short 4. Does anyone have any idea how we can make up the shortfall. She is over 66 so she cant gain it from employment now. Thanks

Have you contacted pensions and discussed the situation? There's a number of avenues to explore before you totally rule it out altogether. Has your mother claimed credits for minding her own children (up to age 12 I think and after it was brought in in 1994) under the Homemakers Scheme?

You could also order a copy of her PRSI record and go over it with a fine tooth comb to see any anomalies - eg there's 52 insurable weeks in a year, is it possible there's a week missing here or there? 4 isn't very much to make up.

I will say though that even if you do find the 4 or more contributions, the 520 is the minimum requirement for the contributory pension. After that it's worked out on an average. You can get this info online on welfare.ie
She might qualify but only for a part pension eg about 80 or so euros a week.
It would be worth her while applying for the non contributory pension to see will she receive anything (it might be more than you think). She will be awarded the higher rate of either pension anyways.

wokingvoter

You are referring to the Homemakers Scheme.
It's not a question of claiming "credits" for the years spent st home caring for children.
If a parent was at home post 1994 getting child benefit for a child under the age of 12, then those years will not be included when calculating the average.
I am presuming that the mother of the OP has applied for the pension and been refused on the basis that SW have examined her PRSI record and found that she is short
If the mother has proof that she made contributions which she feels havnt been reflected in her record then she should get back to them (P60s etc)
If the OP has just got his mothers record and totted up the credits and contributions himself and come to the conclusion that she hasn't enough then he should submit a con pension form and let Sligo decide.

Necro

wokingvoter wrote:

You are referring to the Homemakers Scheme. It's not a question of claiming "credits" for the years spent st home caring for children. If a parent was at home post 1994 getting child benefit for a child under the age of 12, then those years will not be included when calculating the average.

Apologies, you're completely correct in this regard.