Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006

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Old age contributory pension — automatic entitlement for invalidity pension recipients.

11.— The Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting the following section after section 113 but in Chapter 15:

“Entitlement for invalidity pension recipients.

113A.— (1) Notwithstanding this Chapter and regulations made under this Chapter old age (contributory) pension shall be payable in accordance with this section in the case of a person who—

(a) has attained pensionable age, and

(b) immediately before attaining pensionable age is in receipt of a payment under Chapter 17 of this Part.

(2) Only one pension shall be payable to or in respect of a person under this Chapter.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), old age (contributory) pension payable under this section shall be payable in accordance with the rate specified in section 111.

(4) Where a person in receipt of invalidity pension under Chapter 17 of this Part attains pensionable age and becomes entitled to a pension under this section and to a pension from another Member State, the weekly rate of pension payable shall be the greater of—

(a) the amount of pension payable, calculated in accordance with Chapter 2 or 3, as the case may be, of Title III of Regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 ¹ of the Council of the European Communities, or

(b) the rate of invalidity pension otherwise payable in accordance with Chapter 17 of this Part.

(5) The weekly rate of old age (contributory) pension payable under this section shall be increased by—

(a) the amount set out in column (3) at reference 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 2 for any period during which the beneficiary has a qualified adult, subject to the restriction that a beneficiary shall not be entitled for the same period to an increase of pension under this subsection in respect of more than one person,

(b) the amount set out in column (4) at reference 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 2 in respect of each qualified child who normally resides with the beneficiary,

(c) the amount set out in column (6) at reference 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 2 where the beneficiary is living alone,

(d) the amount set out in column (7) at reference 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 2 where the beneficiary has attained the age of 80 years, and

(e) the amount set out in column (8) at reference 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 2 where the beneficiary is ordinarily resident on an island.”,

and

(b) in section 300, by inserting the following subsection after subsection (8):

“(9) In the case of an award made under section 113A, any question which arises in relation to whether old age (contributory) pension is or is not payable, or in relation to who is entitled to receive an old age (contributory) pension, shall be referred to a deciding officer for decision.”.

¹ OJ No. L149, 05.07.1971, p. 2.