Paying Irish social welfare contributions from Germany

D

da.ni.bh

New Member
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3
Hi there,

I am an Irish citizen currently living in Germany. I am in my 30s and have been advised about continuing to pay social welfare contributions so that I have access to the Irish state pension but I don't know if it is possible to elect to pay social welfare contributions if you are no longer resident in the state of Ireland.

I just got my contributions statement and I have earned 369 contributions thus far in Ireland. Would it make sense for me to continue paying contributions and is this even possible? If so, how would I go about this?

I've lived in Germany for nearly 4 years so am paying the mandatory pension contributions. In the end, would I be able to apply for both pensions?

Thanks in advance for any insight!
 
Yes, I know that I currently don't meet the minimum contributions but I'm wondering is there some way in which I could do this over the next couple of years without relocating to Ireland again.

I can't see anywhere where it says I can't pay if I'm paying social insurance in another EU state.
 
da.ni.bh said:
I can't see anywhere where it says I can't pay if I'm paying social insurance in another EU state.
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You can’t be subject to compulsory social insurance in two EU countries simultaneously.

You can’t make voluntary contributions in one if subject to compulsory insurance in another.

It’s EU law.

You are out of luck unless you return to Ireland to work at some future point.
 
da.ni.bh said:
I can't see anywhere where it says I can't pay if I'm paying social insurance in another EU state.
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From the link in my post:

You can pay voluntary contributions if you:

  • Are no longer covered by compulsory PRSI in Ireland
  • Are no longer covered by PRSI on a compulsory or voluntary basis in another EU country
  • Meet the age conditions - see below
Click to expand...
 
It is not fully correct that you cannot make voluntary contributions in one EU country while paying compulsory contributions in another. It always depends on the countries involved. I pay compulsory contributions in Ireland- and pay voluntary contributions in Germany at the same time. And- judging by this forum- many folks are working here in Ireland- and pay voluntary contributions in the UK.
Ireland seems to be one of the countries were voluntary contributions can be made only under very special conditions.

@ da.ni.bh: You can apply for an Irish pro rata pension, using your German contributions to qualify when you reach pension age....which seems to be many many years in the future. Who knows how things are working in decades to come.
 
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Forumuser said:
It is not fully correct that you cannot make voluntary contributions in one EU country while paying compulsory contributions in another. It always depends on the countries involved. I pay compulsory contributions in Ireland- and pay voluntary contributions in Germany at the same time.
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My apologies. This is indeed permitted by EU law but some member states can put in place restrictions.

Forumuser said:
And- judging by this forum- many folks are working here in Ireland- and pay voluntary contributions in the UK.
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Indeed this is expressly permitted by the bilateral social security treaty.
Forumuser said:
Ireland seems to be one of the countries were voluntary contributions can be made only under very special conditions.
Click to expand...

True. Ireland is very strict. For all the talk of “cherishing the diaspora” it’s a real cold shoulder.
 
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