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Irish state pension if I am not a citizen.

  • 11-02-2025 10:15PM
    #1
    CrazyR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 ✭


    Hi guys,

    I have been in Ireland for almost 20 years and I have enough contributions to get Irish state pension. During all this years I didn't apply for Irish citizenship because of EU Poland Ireland as members, I just didn't see the point. I am not planning to stay in Ireland, as a matter of fact I am planning to go back to Poland at the end of this year. My question is, with the current law (I am aware it may change) assuming I will stay alive long enough to reach the pension age, will I be entitled to Irish state pension?



Comments

  • #2
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,861 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    As an EU citizen you will be entitled to a pension, that is without question. The process is a little bit complex though. The EU directive requires that all contributions made are used to maximize your total pension. A quick summary of the process would be:

    • You apply for a pension when you reach the qualifying age for a state pension in any of the member states you contributed to.
    • You apply to the pension authorities in the state where you are residing in at the time you reached that age.
    • This authority is then responsible for figuring out the best way to maximize all your contributions. They will contact the authorities in each state, apply various formula stated in the directive and so on to come up with a maximum figure.
    • Once the max figure is calculated, each state is informed how much they must pay you and as you reach pension age in each state you will begin to receive a payment from them.

    There are two other things to keep in mind:

    • The authorities in the state where you apply for the pensons are also responsible for ensuring you get all other benefits of being a pension in other member states where you qualify, such as travel cards, fuel allowances and so on.
    • If you do not qualify for healthcare in Poland, then the state paying the largest portion of your pension is responsible for your healthcare.


  • #3
    CrazyR
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13 ✭CrazyR


    Thank you very much Jim2007 for clarifying this.



  • #4
    K61
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7 ✭K61


    @Jim2007 Ref your comment above, how does this work where you have almost full Irish pension and also almost full UK pension (through voluntary contributions)? Should you make separate claims?



  • #5
    Jim2007
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators Posts: 10,861 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jim2007


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123195190#Comment_123195190

    I don't know what the situation is since BREXIT as I have no interest in the topic (I live in Switzerland). All I can say is to research it very carefully before making any move. I know of two UK citizens that have run in to issues with this here in Switzerland. There is a rule that only one pension authority can be responsible for you in retirement and they applied directly to the UK. The result is that even though they live here in Switzerland, they have to continually contact the UK to access their Swiss benefits and that has become a PIA. Sorry I don't have the answer for you.



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