Frequently Asked Questions
What changes have been introduced in Budget 2012?
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(a) State Pension (Transition)-(SPT) will include two new rate bands for a person with an average of 24-47 paid contributions and/or credits per year over their working life.
(b) State Pension (Contributory)-(SPC) will include two new rate bands for a person with an average of 20-47 paid contributions and/or credits per year over their working life.
- Late claims for SPT and SPC will only be backdated for a maximum period of 6 months
- Fuel Allowance will be paid for a period of 26 weeks (previously 32 weeks).
- Payment of Increase for Qualified Child (IQC) at half rate will not be paid if the spouse, partner or civil-partner has means in excess of €400 per week.
From when do these changes take effect?
- The additional rate bands will apply for claims received from September 2012.
- The changes to the rules for backdating of late claims will apply to claims received from April 2012.
- Change to Fuel Allowance will take effect in 2012. The current fuel season will end on pay-date Thursday 5 April 2012 for recipients of SPT and on pay-date Friday 6 April 2012 for recipients of SPC. The fuel season for 2012/2013 will commence on pay-date Thursday 11 October 2012 for recipients of SPT and on pay-date Friday 12 October 2012 for recipients of SPC.
- Change to the qualifying conditions for Increase for Qualified Child at half rate will take effect for claims received on or after 5 July 2012 (for SPT) and 6 July 2012 (for SPC).
Do these changes affect people already in receipt of State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Transition)?
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New Rate Bands
No, there will be
no change to the payment rates for existing recipients of SPT or SPC.
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Backdating
No, changes to backdating rules
do not apply to existing recipients of SPT or SPC.
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Fuel Allowance
Yes, current recipients of Fuel Allowance on SPT and SPC will be affected by this change.
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Increase for a Qualified Child
No, changes to IQC at half rate will
only affect new SPT and SPC customers.