What is the State Pension (Contributory)?
The State Pension (Contributory) in Ireland is a social insurance benefit that you may be eligible for when you reach 66 years of age, provided you have made sufficient social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
How to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory):
To qualify you must have:
You can continue to work full time after reaching the qualifying age for this pension.
PRSI Contributions:
The PRSI contributions can be:
If you've worked or lived abroad, you may still qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) even if you don't qualify based on contributions paid in Ireland. If you've paid PRSI in another country, you may receive a proportion of a full pension.
Rates of Payment:
Once you qualify, the rate of payment depends on the number of PRSI contributions you've made.
You may qualify for a higher rate of payment if you've spent time out of work due to unemployment, illness, child care, or other eligible activities.
The payment comprises a personal rate and any applicable increases or allowances. Increases or allowances include:
Maximum Weekly Personal Rates (from January 6, 2023) are:
Your pension rate is calculated based on whether you've been assessed using a Yearly Average method or Aggregated Contributions Method. You can learn more about how the department calculates your pension rate and the rate of pensions paid here.
Taxes:
The pension is taxable, but if it's your only income, you're unlikely to pay tax on it.
How to Apply:
You can also get this form from your local Intreo Centre.
Please return your completed application form and relevant supporting documents to:
State Pension (Contributory) Section
Claiming an EU Pension
