Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 115

Conditions for receipt

Section 115 sets out the contribution conditions that a claimant must satisfy to qualify for State pension (transition).

• Claimants must have entered insurance before age 55 and generally need 520 contribution weeks with a yearly average of at least 48.
• Reduced contribution requirements apply to those who reached 65 before April 2012, ranging from 156 to 260 qualifying weeks depending on the date.
• Regulations permit payment at reduced rates where the yearly average falls below 48, with protections for those already receiving pensions at 31 December 2012.
• Special provisions exist for workers in certain employments who paid contributions at modified rates under the 1996 Regulations.