Deal protects future pension payments
SOCIAL Protection Minister Regina Doherty has worked out a deal with her British counterpart to ensure Irish citizens on UK pensions will continue to receive them after Brexit.
There are currently 133,000 recipients of UK state pensions living in Ireland, and the Government currently pays contributory pensions to over 29,000 people and widow’s pension to almost 5,000 people who live in the UK.
At the end of 2017, there were 850 Irish recipients of child benefit on behalf of 1,800 children.
In response to a parliamentary question, Ms Doherty confirmed that the agreement was formally signed last week. ‘Under the terms of the agreement all existing arrangements with regard to recognition of, and access to, social insurance entitlements will be maintained in both jurisdictions,’ she said.
‘This means that the rights of Irish citizens domiciled in Ireland to benefit from social insurance contributions made when working in the UK and to access social insurance payments if resident in the UK are protected.’
This agreement will be maintained if Britain leaves the European Union with or without a deal. It is understood this deal will be ratified in both parliaments in the coming weeks.
The agreement is part of the Government’s plan to cover most eventualities in case there is a hard Brexit.
Ms Doherty said: ‘We have been planning for all Brexit scenarios but in light of uncertainties in London and the Brexit deadline of March 29, the Government decided that immediate priority must now be given to preparations for a no-deal Brexit and that Government departments and State agencies should urgently take forward work on that basis.’