Paid full PRSI in the Republic from Aug 1976 to Jan 1986, any entitlement?

Can anybody help?

I worked full time in the Republic from Aug 1976 to Jan 1986, paying PRSI for the whole period.

I already have enough qualifying years for a full British pension.

Can I claim a pension from Ireland also?

I have read the website dealing with Irish Pensions but find the information confusing.

Any help would be appreciated.

Moved from Pensions to Welfare and state benefits

Yes of course you can claim an Irish pension if you have paid Irish PRSI. It has nothing to do with your UK pension.

If you are age 66 or over and still working (or retired) you can claim your State Contributory Pension.

Download an application form from welfare.ie, complete it and forward it to pension office Sligo

You may even get a half-rate pension

I am no expert on this, but I think you need to average 48 contributions a year for a full pension,

As the above poster states you need an average of 48 contributions per year to get the full pension. You need a minimum average of 10 to qualify for a pension at all.

To calculate whether you reach this average, you take the total number of years from entering into insurance until your pension age. You divide the total number of contributions you have by this number. If you worked for 9 1/2 years then you would have approximately 500 contributions. If there were 52 years between you entering employment and pension age, then you would not qualify for a pension. You would however qualify for a minimum pension if you entered into insurance 2 years later and only had 50 years before reaching pension age. It will all depend at what age you entered into insurance.

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/Pension/Pages/spc.aspx

Normal average rule

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The normal average rule states that you must have a yearly average of at least 10 appropriate contributions paid or credited from the year you first entered insurance or from 1953, whichever is later. An average of 10 entitles you to a minimum pension; you need an average of 48 to get the maximum pension.

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The current rates for pensions are set out here http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/Pension/Pages/spc.aspx#Rates3

As the OP has worked 9.5 years in Ireland and therefore has paid 490 (approx) contributions, and perhaps credits or Homemakers it is very likely that she is entitled to a half rate pension.

Very few people have a working life (ie from the date of entry to insurable employment to age 66) of longer than 51 years so I would strongly recommend that she apply for her State Con. Pension