State Pension with foreign contributions

Gael23

Looking for advice for a relative looking to return to Ireland following many years spent in Australia.
Would Australia social insurance qualify them to get the contributory pension here or would they need to go for the non contributory one?
They have no private pension and modest savings.

skippy2

They should be but need to do some checking

Worth reading the following

https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/international/international-social-security-agreements/current-international-social-security-agreements/australia-and-ireland-frequently-asked-questions

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/returning-to-ireland/returning-to-ireland-social-welfare-and-pensions-1.2230635

coylemj

Australia is one of the countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreeement on recognising social welfare contributions.

12. I am resident in Ireland, but I have worked or lived abroad. Do I need to contact the social insurance authorities abroad to help sort out my pension?

You do not need to contact the foreign social insurance authorities directly. When you apply for your Irish pension, once you have informed the Department of the country/countries in which you previously worked or lived, we will contact the relevant foreign authorities on your behalf in relation to your pension entitlements. You do not need to make a separate pension claim to those countries.

13. Do the social insurance contributions I have paid in a country or countries covered by EC Regulations or with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement count towards State pension (contributory)?

If you do not qualify for State pension (contributory) based on your Irish social insurance record alone, contributions paid abroad may help you qualify for a pro-rata State pension (contributory) under EC Regulations or under Bilateral Social Security Agreements. You may also qualify for a pension from the other country or countries.


When applying for your Irish pension, you should give details on your application form of any periods of employment or residence abroad. We will send the required papers, including details of your Irish contribution history, to the authorities in the other country or countries involved, on your behalf,


http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Qualifying-for-State-Pension-Contributory.aspx