Social Protection | Total number of pension applications for contributory-related State pension received, granted, refused, or pending

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of pension applications for contributory-related State pension received in each of the past three years to date; the number granted, refused or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) is a social insurance based payment made to people at age 66.  This is not a means-tested payment.  The State Pension (Contributory) is based solely on a person’s record of contributions.  A person can receive payment of State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work or have other income such as an occupational pension.

The number of claims registered, awarded, rejected and pending for each of the last three years are shown in the table below. Claims registered, awarded and rejected refer to the entire year, while pending figures refer to claims pending on the 31st December.

Table 1: SPC claims registered, awarded, rejected and pending, 2020 to 2022