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Minister Dara Calleary with staff from the Social Welfare Services Office in Sligo. Richard Mc Carthy

People can now apply for their State pension on a new online site

It is being introduced due to high demand recorded by users last year.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS unveiled a new online method of applying for State pensions. Applicants will be able to apply for both contributory and non-contributory (means-tested) State pensions under the new service.

The online application is an extension of the services already on MyWelfare.ie, the online hub for users to access all details related to their social welfare claims and entitlements.

It will be available for those approaching pension age, and will complement the existing services available on the website, which include the ability to request a contribution statement, fuel allowance and benefit payment for 65-year-olds.

It is hoped that it will more easily streamline the application process for those approaching pension age.

Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary announced the newly expanded application system this morning where he said his department is committed to having 90% of State social welfare services online by 2030 due to growing demand.

“People can now conveniently apply for several schemes and services at a time and place that suits them best,” he said.

“As the number of State pension recipients continues to increase year on year, my department is committed to simplifying the pensions application process for individuals during this important transition in their lives.

“By offering this service online, we are making it more accessible and user friendly.”

Contributory State pension

Contributory pension payments are paid weekly and are based on your social insurance contributions recorded throughout your working life. It is not means tested, meaning any additional income you earn will not be factored into the decision on how much your weekly pension reward is.

To receive it, you must be 66 or over and have at least 520 social insurance contributions to your name.

To claim the highest rate of pension, you must have at least 2,080 contributions.

The Department recommends that you apply for contributory State pension six months before you wish to start claiming your pension.

Non-contributory State pension

Non-contributory pension payments are means tested.

These are given to people who are not eligible based on social insurance contributions alone.

They are also available to those who qualify for a reduced contributory payment.

To qualify for this, you must be 66 and legally and frequently be living in the State. You must also satisfy a means test by the Department.    

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 14th 2012, 1:34 PM

    Wow the fiscal compact is sure doing it’s job of steadying the financial markets…….

    71
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    Mute limofax
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    May 14th 2012, 1:43 PM

    Must have heard that FG mayor Jim Keogh says No!

    55
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    Mute Shayno ZO
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    May 14th 2012, 1:48 PM

    Spain has set up a government backed fund to recapitalize their banks with a interest rate of 10% making their citizens a profit and not handcuffing the country! we really need to get a grip here, our politicians have no business acumen.

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    Mute Ronala
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    May 14th 2012, 2:51 PM

    They have, it is just that they prefer to put the people at the top above the interests of the people and economy overall.

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    Mute Senan Kelly
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    May 14th 2012, 3:26 PM

    But the banks will simply hike charges and borrow the rest with emergency leanding from the ECB to pay the interest.
    Spain is following Irelands piss poor policy of slowly socialising bank debts which is what this amounts too.

    The only difference between us and Spain is simply that Spain is too big to bailout and conversly too big to fail. Something has and will give.

    A default and Euro exit of Greece is all but a certainty now. All of these recent events mean the Fiscal Treaty is a total waste of time and money.

    The Debt Monster in Europe is about the stir once again and this time it is not going to be pretty.

    In a few months this treaty will be looked back on as a complete red herring as all the above events will show.

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    Mute Senan Kelly
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    May 14th 2012, 3:33 PM

    Shayno is not entirely correct.

    The Banks cant afford to pay this Interest. So they will hike up bank charges which hits the consumer.
    The Banks in Spain have also been getting billions in emergency funding from the ECB at very low rates ~1%.
    They use this money to buy Spanish bonds which are paying out at 3/4% which they then use to shore up there balance sheets.
    Basically they are socialisng their Bank Debt.

    Except this cant go on forever and Spain is simply too big to bailout and conversly too big to fail.

    This Euro Debt Crisis is about to get nasty.

    A Greek default and Exit is not going to be pretty and will be very bad for Ireland.

    This Treaty is a complete red herring.

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    Mute Liam Ó Broin
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    May 14th 2012, 1:48 PM

    I’m confused. When the time comes, who bails out Planet Earth? I think the Martians will see us as bad investment. After that, who else do we have? Mercurians maybe? :P

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    Mute limofax
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    May 14th 2012, 1:56 PM

    They got their fingers burnt years ago

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    Mute Liam Ó Broin
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    May 14th 2012, 7:01 PM

    Us Earthlings are a frivolous bunch aren’t we!? :P

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    Mute Ryan oneill
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    May 14th 2012, 2:06 PM

    The tide has turned and ‘the markets’ are now betting on the end of the euro, a risky investment but one that yields more profit. Spain is to big to bailout when they go it’s bye bye euro and the snakes in suits profiteer from it.

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    Mute somethingodd
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    May 14th 2012, 2:00 PM

    we really do need to vote no until there is some stability, at which point, then it would make sense to bring in rules but can’t do this in such uncertain times

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    Mute Shanners
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    May 14th 2012, 2:06 PM

    300 quid wiped off my fund for euro 2012 with that drop in share price this morning. Would Greece ever cop on for themselves, they are letting everyone down!

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    Mute Ronala
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    May 14th 2012, 2:47 PM

    If you think that an economy that is as small and insignificant as Greece is causing all this problems, then you are going to have a harsh few years ahead.

    The Euro is the problem. Greece is just a basket case economy, that is stuck in that problem.

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    Mute Dmc
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    May 14th 2012, 6:14 PM

    This crisis is a big scam to acquire more assets and make certain powers even more powerful!

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    Mute Yamonpat Yoddee
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    May 14th 2012, 3:56 PM

    It’s such a mess, all these countrys people want to stay in the euro , big country’s got to help the small countrys and they gain in currency rates for exports the German people understand this.. It’ can be cleaned up if the will was there from all euro country’s

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    Mute El Cheebo
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    May 14th 2012, 3:38 PM

    Timber!!!!!!!!!!!!

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