Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

445. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the refusal of a pension (non-contributory) will be examined for a person (details supplied). [52948/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means test, cash income, including any additional pension(s), the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant hold or co-hold, are assessable.

The person concerned applied for state pension non-contributory on 1 September 2022. Following an investigation, a Social Welfare Inspector submitted their report to the Deciding Officer on 5 October 2022, stating that the person concerned had failed to fully disclose their means to the Inspector and had failed to provide sufficient documentary evidence of their habitual residence in the State, for the purposes of determining state pension entitlement.

As the requested information was not provided, the person's state pension application was disallowed on the grounds of both non-disclosure of means and failure to provide sufficient documentary evidence of habitual residence. On 10 0ctober 2022, the person concerned was notified in writing of the reasons for this decision and of their right to request a review of the decision or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. To date, there is no record of the person concerned appealing the decision.

It is open to the person concerned to provide documentary evidence, as previously requested, seeking a review of their state pension claim. Their claim will be reviewed without delay and they will be notified of the outcome in writing.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.