Social Protection | To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of the State pension non-contributory over the past two years

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of recipients of the State pension non-contributory over the past two years; the extent to which this number has fluctuated or is likely to so do; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

The table below shows the numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory at the end of December 2020 and December 2021.

As the scheme is demand led and means tested, it is not possible to predict the extent to which this number is likely to fluctuate in future years.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.