Brouhahaha
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Hi,
If a (single) person qualifies for a Contributory pension at a reduced rate and this is their only income can they instead apply for the non-contributory and forego the contributory.
Example:
- They could qualify for €115.20 or €172.70 per week from contributory.
- They have no other income and therefore would satisfy the means test for a non-contributory pension if not receiving the cont. pension
Rules for the non-contributory seem to say you cannot if you qualify for contributory (it does not distinguish between full and reduced rate) but does this not leave people facing extreme poverty with a weekly income of €115.20?
Welfare's site (section 4) does say a person loses entitlement to a non-contributory if they subsequently qualify for a contributory greater than the non.
But the reverse is not apparent, i.e. they could opt for a non-contributory if their contributory pension is less than the non-cont. pension (and they satisfy the means test).
If a (single) person qualifies for a Contributory pension at a reduced rate and this is their only income can they instead apply for the non-contributory and forego the contributory.
Example:
- They could qualify for €115.20 or €172.70 per week from contributory.
- They have no other income and therefore would satisfy the means test for a non-contributory pension if not receiving the cont. pension
Rules for the non-contributory seem to say you cannot if you qualify for contributory (it does not distinguish between full and reduced rate) but does this not leave people facing extreme poverty with a weekly income of €115.20?
Welfare's site (section 4) does say a person loses entitlement to a non-contributory if they subsequently qualify for a contributory greater than the non.
But the reverse is not apparent, i.e. they could opt for a non-contributory if their contributory pension is less than the non-cont. pension (and they satisfy the means test).