Limerick TD criticises delays to pension increase review

ALMOST 86,000 pensioners are awaiting a decision on their entitlement to an increase in the State Contributory Pension according to Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Employment Affairs and Social Protection Willie O’Dea.

A review is currently being conducted in relation to post Budget 2012 band rates. 

Deputy O’Dea made his comments following a reply to a Parliamentary Question which revealed that as of March 8, 2019, only 4,254 reviews out of approximately 90,000 had been completed.  That is less than 5%.

“Fianna Fáil pushed very hard for the government to address the anomalies in relation to the Contributory Pension that arose after punitive changes were introduced by Fine Gael and Labour in 2012.

“These changes resulted in thousands of people being denied their entitlement to a full state pension,” Deputy O’Dea said.

“Whilst I am of course glad that reviews are underway and that a number of pensioners have received their revised payment I am dismayed by the slow pace of the review process,” he added.

According to Mr O’Dea, he has been told that it will take a number of months to complete all reviews and that additional staff have been hired.

However, Mr O’Dea said that given that this review was announced in January 2018, some pensioners may end up waiting up to two years before a decision is finalised on their entitlement to an increase in the State Contributory pension fact he finds ‘deeply unsatisfactory’.