Credited Contributions Disability Allowance

Dempo1

Morning All.

I've just noticed I'm not being credited PRSI CONTRIBUTIONS since going on Disability Allowance last September. I wasn't on illness benefit & moved to DA after a CE Scheme. Prior to that I had a number of years with full 52 contributions & at 57 probably have enough for a State Pension.

I'm just curious, is it normal not to be receiving credited Contributions whilst on DA as I will likely not work again.

Thanks in advance of any advice

hawthorne

Judging by this:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c075c7-operational-guidelines-disability-allowance/

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/99f84f-operational-guidelines-prsi-credited-social-insurance-contributions/

you should get your credits.

I can see a potential problem for you in the future. If I get that right, you are 57 now. That means you will be under the new pension system. If you go on the pension in 2033, your pension will be either fully calculated in TCA- means you can only use up to 520 credits- or it will be calculated on the basis of 90% TCA and 10% average. All your credits will be either limited to 520 or greatly reduced in value.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121968571#Comment_121968571

Thank you. I've about 1700 contributions a small mix of credited etc but mainly full contributions. Oddly if you move from illness benefit having used up entitlement to it, to DA you automatically get credits. I wasn't on illness benefit ever.

I'll have to contact them but appreciate the response

Dempo1

Just an update that might assist others.

Spoke to DSP about credited Contributions & Disability Allowance. They've explained that whilst on DA credited Contributions are not shown on Statement until a person on DA moves off that scheme or until pension age is reached. Seemingly this is also the case for other schemes /Payments, they used Carer's allowance as another example.

It seems odd but that's what I've been told & I shouldn't be concerned.

beachhead

That's what I expected them to say-no credit record until DA ends.Maybe call again this month and ask again and then ask for it in writing as a record.But fat chance of getting anything in writing but would ask anyway

hawthorne

Better ask a TD to look into it. It is a crazy situation. Credits should be registered as soon as they occur- not up to many years later. The information you got may might be true- but a TD from the opposition might be able to find out why it is this way- and may might force a change. The case is a perfect opportunity for the opposition to play to the galleries without much effort. I heard Brid Smith is great at this game.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121970147#Comment_121970147

I found it a Bizzare response & will be seeking written clarification. People can be on DA or Carer's allowance for many years, possibly up to retirement, it seems illogical that credited Contributions are not been updated on a yearly basis on people's contribution statements.

beachhead

Should be a yearly update at least as you say.I wouldn't trust them-get anything they say in writing.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121970316#Comment_121970316

I've just emailed my very fiesty local TD Carol Nolan to seek clarification, I know her well, she's like a dog with a bone when it comes to these type of matters.

I'm honestly Baffled by the response I got from the department.

I'll post an update as soon as I have it

beachhead

I'll do the same with my TD before the end of the year for a problem with my record too.Not exactly the same,Dempo1 but losing years.I send them an email & letter and get a call months later with blah,blah,blah then nothing more.Good luck.

Dempo1

Edit

Dempo1

Just an update on this Thread others in a Similar situation might be interested.

After a long Battle, Interventions from a TD which came to Naught, Astonishingly inaccurate information from Citizen information, I eventually had credited Contributions applied to my Contributory Statement for the entire time I have been on Disability Allowance.

Special Thanks to @Necro

It may seem like a Trivial matter but new state pension contribution requirements will affect many.

Dempo 😉

Shamrocksandclovers

Hi@Dempo1,

Off the back of your thread I checked that I have been credited contributions whilst on Illness Benefit. I have been, so everything is in order. However, I asked my partner who's on DA to check his and they haven't been credited. Could you advise where he could start with getting this rectified?

Many thanks,

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123679992#Comment_123679992

Sorry just seeing this. I got an awful Run around, Citizens info, Useless, Local TD, useless. I first contacted the PRSI Section of DSP, they advised I contact The Disability Team, who whilst they ignored my Email, Credited Contributions where added to my Contributions statement when the Annual refresh took place, Late April, I believe.

Credited Contributions are not automatically applied for DA, why I can't say. The basic eligibility requirement is you had to have paid contributions in the Two years prior to going on DA.

With Illness Benefit, Like Invalidity pension, they are applied automatically.

To surmise & only after questioning this, Credited Contributions where applied for the entire time I've been on DA, since Late September 2023. I'm now up to date but will check again next year.

I'd contact the DA section by email.

Good luck

Shamrocksandclovers

Thank you for replying. It doesn't make sense to me that Illness Benefit gets credited automatically and DA doesn't. So strange.

I will pass this info onto my partner and hopefully his credit history will be amended. Thanks for sharing this info in the first place.

All the best

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123681352#Comment_123681352

It's very perplexing indeed

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123681352#Comment_123681352

Primarily because, DA is a means tested payment.

A person can theoretically receive DA from when they're 16 to retirement age, never having paid any actual PRSI contributions - why should they be entitled to credited contributions for the entire period of their claim?

As Dempo says, it's different when someone unfortunately becomes ill later in life and has to apply for it. But if they have the paid contributions in the previous few years prior to claiming, once they contact DA the credits will be applied. Unless the person is retiring in the very near future there's no massive panic anyways.

AugustRain

please see below the explanation of how credits are applied during periods of illness.
it’s from citizensinformation.ie

It’s actually not that complicated really.

Credits during illness

You can get credits if you are getting Illness Benefit, Injury Benefit and Invalidity Pension.

If you use up your entitlement to Illness Benefit or Injury Benefit, you should continue to submit medical certificates to continue to get credits.

If you have applied for Illness Benefit or Injury Benefit and don't qualify because you do not meet the PRSI requirements, you may still be entitled to credits if you have paid or credited contributions in the last 2 tax years. You must submit medical certificates to get credits.

You can continue to get credits during illness if you take part in the Back to Education Allowance Scheme.

Disability allowance

You can get credits while on Disability Allowance, if you have paid or credited contributions in the last 2 years. If you are getting Disability Allowance because you have used up your entitlement to Illness Benefit, you will get credits.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123684783#Comment_123684783

And here's the kicker, Citizens information flatly denied anyone on Disability Allowance gets credited Contributions despite the actual information posted on their website. I had some arrogant "Expert" from the Portlaoise office essentially lecture me & needless to say, Deafening Silence when I share a link to their own website.

I should say it's not the first time I've caught citizens information out. A service greatly diminished when they let go 100s of retired volunteer experts a few years ago. I advise people to be very wary of any advice offered by them, worse than useless.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686778#Comment_123686778

As my relative found out after them saying there was no chance of getting the Invalidity Pension after losing their D/A. They got it, and I told them to request a new copy of their contributions now to see were they building up while on D/A to enable them to get the Invalidity Pension.

Shamrocksandclovers

Thanks for that explanation.

Shamrocksandclovers

I've had similar experience with Citizens Advise. Incorrect information given. Not good enough.

Shamrocksandclovers

Good on you for being proactive and advocating for your relative.

hawthorne

Indeed- Citizen Information is not anymore what it used to be many years ago. I got supplied with the wrong information by that crowd as well some time ago and acted in accordance with their advice. I am still trying to fix the damage this "advice" caused.

So take anything said at Citizen Information with a pinch of salt. It might be the right advice you get- or a wrong one.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123696516#Comment_123696516

Agreed, it was once a fantastic resource, especially for those who found filling in forms challenging.

The Rot commenced during the Pandemic & then under Heather Humphreys watch, 100's of retired experts (Accountants, Bankers, Civil Servants, Solicitors) who volunteered were let go.

I like many had to familiarise myself with SW schemes and was shocked at how bad Citizens information became. Literally every query I made, from CE schemes, Fuel allowance, DA & finally credited Contributions to them resulted in Incorrect information, it was only when reading additional information (Not easy to find) I discovered I was being misinformed.

Folks need to take any information given to them with a pinch of Salt, Citizens information is no longer reliable.

con747

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123697300#Comment_123697300

An update from my relative, they received their updated contributions letter earlier and were getting weekly contributions since 2009 when they went on D/A contrary to what citizens advice told them when asking if they would qualify for invalidity pension. So it's better off just applying for what you think you might qualify for rather than take the advice of citizens information.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123698609#Comment_123698609

Absolutely, Unfortunately however many Take Citizens information advice as Gospel & don't follow through or apply for Schemes, Allowances etc they are Entitled to.