State Pension-Qualifying Criteria Help

Teemarie

Hi all, I am really hoping someone might be able to help me. My mother is currently on the state pension non contributory with my dad as a qualified adult (reduced rate due to savings). She had however worked for 20 years (1961-1981) but did not know her pps number at that time and was then advised (not by social welfare or state body) she may qualify for non contributory pension. She has been that pension for the past number of years. She was recently given an appointment at the local welfare office to get her pps card it was at this appointment she was given her old pps number (the number she had used when she was working). With this number I was able to get her contributions history-it is this that I am unable to understand. It states that from 1961/81 she had 922 paid contributions, the next column is credited contributions this totals 64 and the next column states reckonable paid contributions for pension as 921 and the final column states reckonable credited contributions for pension as 64....I am confused as to the two different numbers and whether she would qualify for state pension. I don't want to apply and fill in the form for then for her non contributory pension to be queried again. This has been assessed twice since given and causes stress for my parents-reduced by about 30 the last time assessed. They have savings of about 88k which they will need as my mother is suffering ill health and will require a bedroom downstairs-there house is very very small with only one living area so an extension will be required. My dad will be entitled too state pension come November. Am I best to leave along and let my mam to continue with non contributory and my dad to get his contributory. My mother or father wouldn't have the ability to speak to the department about this and I am living away at present. I just dont know what to do for the best.. Any help would be appreciated

Carawaystick

Are credit contributions contributions made on a persons behalf when getting unemployment/illness/maternity benefit? So you'ld add them to the paid contributions number to get 985

Teemarie

Thanks Carawaystick, I suppose I should ring the pensions board for advise I just dont want them been assessed again as they get very worried and stressed. They really are not capable of dealing with these sort of things.

Bubbaclaus

Teemarie wrote: »

Thanks Carawaystick, I suppose I should ring the pensions board for advise I just dont want them been assessed again as they get very worried and stressed. They really are not capable of dealing with these sort of things.

Unless they are hiding wads of cash and lying on forms they have nothing to be worried about.

Kristopherus

Teemarie wrote: »

Thanks Carawaystick, I suppose I should ring the pensions board for advise I just dont want them been assessed again as they get very worried and stressed. They really are not capable of dealing with these sort of things.

Just be aware the the pensions board and social welfare pensions dept are 2 completely different outfits.

The info you require is here http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/a-retired-or-an-older-person.aspx. Have a good read of that section. AFAIK if Mum has 985 contributions/credits, to get State Pension, she must have a minimum average of 10 contributions a year over a 40 year span.