SOCIAL WELFARE ISSUES/TAX

December 2019 - OCCUPATIONAL/STATE PENSIONS

RASA would like to remind pensioners that it is very important that personal details held by their occupational pension providers are kept up to date and any change to their personal circumstances are advised to the pension providers and DEASP.

For example

1.    IASS and pension providers’ ‘Certificate of Continued Entitlement to Pension Benefit’ Form – it is vital that this form be duly signed, witnessed and returned as requested – otherwise your monthly pension payment may not continue to go into your account .

State Pension – Qualified Adult

            2.   If you are in receipt of a State Contributory Pension and at the time also claimed for a Qualified Adult[QA] pension we wish to remind                you that the QA pension is means tested.

3.    If since the QA application there have been changes in personal circumstances, such as increase in savings/assets, inheritance, prize bonds win, etc you should notify DEASP immediately as this may result in overpayment of the QA pension and a repayment will be demanded by DEASP.   Therefore it is important that if you are in receipt of this payment it should be reviewed regularly.

 4.    For your information the DEASP reviews claims on a regular basis by way of data matching with other Departments, DIRT returns etc and conducting control surveys to identify the risks for them.  You may have read in the media or heard in the Oireachtas recently that one of the control survey ‘at risk’ groups is the ‘over 80s’ for State non contributory pension/QA overpayment.

State Pension – Total Contribution Approach.

5.    You may recall that at our AGM last year details of the new way to calculate State Contributory Pension, on a Total Contribution Approach (TCA) rather than Year Average Method and Interim arrangement, were outlined.

6.    This ‘Total Contribution Approach’, which was expected to be introduced in January 2020 has been deferred until the third quarter of 2020.  In the meantime, persons reaching pension age will have their State Pension calculated under both systems (a) the ‘yearly average’ method and (b) the ‘Interim Total Contribution Approach’ with a guarantee that they will receive the higher of (a) or (b).

RASA would suggest that you consider popping into your local Citizens Information Centre and/or look up their website https://www.citizensinformation.ie/  for further details. 

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BUDGET 2020

Please note changes to some secondary benefits.

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March - State Pension Payment will increase as per Budget 2019

AUGUST 2015 -  OVER 70'S FREE GP VISIT - THIS MAY REQUIRE CHANGING YOUR CURRENT GP IF HE/SHE DOES NOT HAVE A GMS HSE CONTRACT - click on HSE website to establish if your GP has registered

https://www.pcrsonline.ie/libr/html/UGPO70_GPlist_by_LHO.pdf

RASA Executive Members provide office and telephone coverage to callers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This service is available from 10 am to 12 noon.      

Personal and telephone callers to the RASA office highlights some of the main problems and concerns for pensioners.  These include such issues as fuel allowance, household benefits, income entitlement, tax, benefits for over 70's, Universal Social Charge (USC), security of pension, changes to the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal),  carers  and respite allowances to name a few.  

Additional Government Budgets since 2011 had very significant changes in respect of Household Benefits Package, Drugs Payment Scheme, Prescription Charges, with significant means tested criteria for Medical card/GP visit card for over 70's, cuts in homecare help/hours  - just to mention a few , etc

Members are advised, if required, to use their Citizens Information Centre for individual complex personal issues and broader general information or the Pensions Registered Adminstrators relating to occupational pension.   The latest updates are available on their website http://www.citizensinformation.ie

Some recurring problems occur on reaching age 66 and State (Transitional) Pension.   You must advise your Revenue office once you receive taxable payments, for example State Pension at age 66, living alone allowance, job seeker allowance etc.   A list of some of the taxable Social Protection payments can be found on the Revenue website.  

Increases in pensionable age

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides for an increase in the qualifying age for the State Pension in 2014 is 66 years and increases to 67 years from 1st January 2021, and a further increase to 68 years from 1st January 2028.

Year of Birth            Age

1954 or earlier        66

1955-1960                 67

1961 or later            68

Introduction of a 'Total Contributions' approach to State Pension (Contributory) in 2020

A total contributions requirement of 30 years contributions for a maximum pension will be introduced. Under the new approach, a minimum rate of State Pension (Contributory) will be payable at one third (10/30ths) of the maximum rate. 

A person will accumulate 1/30th of a pension for each year of contributions up to a maximum of 30/30ths. Upon introduction of the total contributions approach, the maximum number of credits applicable for pension purposes will be 520 (i.e. 10 years) - i.e.

• Started paying PRSI before age 56

• Paid at least 520 weekly contributions of which 260 can be voluntary*

• An annual average number of 48 weekly contributions paid or credited to each year from 1979/80

• Paid the appropriate type of contributions (Class A or S)

You can apply on-line to check your PRSI/Social Welfare Record 

Go to www.welfare.ie/online services and it takes around three weeks.

Discontinuance of State Pension (Transitional) and Job Seekers Benefit Guidelines. 

The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 discontinues the State Pension (Transition) for new claimants with effect from 1st January 2014. This will standardise the State Pension age at 66 years for all applicants.  The Department of Social Protections website has updated the Job Seekers Operational Guidelines to include those over the age of 65 and under the age of 66 https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Jobseekers-Benefit.aspx.   

Under Part 2: Claims: section (g) Cumulative Total & Duration of Payment see the following entry: 

Over 65 and under 66

Persons aged between 65 and 66 years where their entitlement to benefit exhausts are entitled to receive JB payment beyond 234 days (9 months) or 156 days (6 months) weeks) which ever is applicable up to the date on which they reach pensionable age (66 years) provided they have not less than 156 paid contributions since entering employment and they satisfy the second contribution condition.

Contact your local Social Welfare Office for further information. 

Jan 2016

Go to webpage Links/Useful Contact Numbers.

Sub Committees are formed as required to organise events and monitor social welfare, tax, and other issues.   

 Members of these committees are drawn from RASA Executive members and volunteers from the general membership.