I was browsing today and came across the concept of Alternative Average” on Citizens Information ie.
I was aware of TCA and Average but not this third method of calculating the amount of one’s Contributory Irish state pension. A quick search hasn’t produced any back up. At first read it seems to suggest that for applicants that entered the work force at a very young age who are normally disadvantaged under the “normal” Average method if there was a substantial gap in PRSI contributions..... they can disregard the years where no PRSI contributions were made.
So for example, I started work and paying PRSI at age 17, left for the UK at age 22 and had a 14 year gap in PRSI before coming home and resuming normal PRSI contributions at age 37. This article seems to suggest that I can ignore the missing 14 years and therefore improve my average.
I have maintained my PRSI record ever since coming home but will likely be relying on the TCA method to maximise my Irish State Pension...or so I thought until seeing this.
Is this method common knowledge?
State Pension (Contributory)
The State Pension (Contributory), previously called the Old Age (Contributory) Pension, is payable to people aged 66 and over who have worked and paid enough social insurance contributions.
www.citizensinformation.ie
I was aware of TCA and Average but not this third method of calculating the amount of one’s Contributory Irish state pension. A quick search hasn’t produced any back up. At first read it seems to suggest that for applicants that entered the work force at a very young age who are normally disadvantaged under the “normal” Average method if there was a substantial gap in PRSI contributions..... they can disregard the years where no PRSI contributions were made.
So for example, I started work and paying PRSI at age 17, left for the UK at age 22 and had a 14 year gap in PRSI before coming home and resuming normal PRSI contributions at age 37. This article seems to suggest that I can ignore the missing 14 years and therefore improve my average.
I have maintained my PRSI record ever since coming home but will likely be relying on the TCA method to maximise my Irish State Pension...or so I thought until seeing this.
Is this method common knowledge?