Emigration and credits

[Paddylast]

My niece emigrated to Germany to find work three weeks ago. Before that she was out of work for three weeks but did not sign on as she got a good response in relation to interviews in Germany and so planned on heading off. However, I am told by a colleague that she should have signed on here to keep her credits in order as this will impact on her state pension in years to come.
My question is, is there anything she can do at this stage to rectify the situation?

 

[Time]

Sadly no. I take it she signed off in Ireland?

 

[Paddylast]

sorry,I don't understand ..."signed off in Ireland"?

 

[Black Sheep]

Assuming that she is now working in Germany she will be paying her contributions there and therefore could not sign for anything in Ireland. Her German contributions will count towards her Old age (Contributory State Pension).

Records of all contributions paid should be kept regardless of which country you work in. It's not always easy to trace them when you are 66 having paid them over 40 or more years

 

[Jim2007]

Assuming that she is now working in Germany she will be paying her contributions there and therefore could not sign for anything in Ireland. Her German contributions will count towards her Old age (Contributory State Pension)

Her contributions in Germany will actually be used to calculate any German pension she might be entitled to - not her Irish state pension. If her total pension falls below the minimum Irish pension, then her German contributions may be used to ensure that she gets at least a pension equal to the Irish minimum state pension. But the German portion if any of the pension, will still be paid by the German state.