State Pension approval delay

I spoke with Sligo again today. A little progress. They say they received the postal application. They've now sent a request to the UK side, asking for more info. I'm not sure why, as I included all the info asked for. Anyway, they advised I speak to the UK side, international pensions centre. So I've done that, and they can see the request, and say they'll respond to it.

He told me to wait at least two weeks before contacting again. I'm concerned that when they respond, that Sligo won't receive it, but I'll just have to wait and see.

The other thing that crossed my mind was as my start date was in 2025, I should have been calculated as 90% the old method and 10% the new. As we're now into 2026, I wonder if they do it as 80/20, which would reduce the pension.
 
Because you have applied to have your COAP started in 2025, it will be backdated to the 2025 date. So the 2025 YA calculation should apply.
 
Today I got a letter from Sligo about sending me free travel card soon. Does this mean they will soon award me my pension as well?
 
I just logged to MyWelfare account and I had awarded my pension on August 22nd. And I only had 60 days to appeal it! So I missed it.

I didn't expect that they will do it so soon. I expected it near my 66th Bday. But their record was wrong. For 2025 they only have 30 stamp, while I payed 52. Is it possible to reverse their decision?

Their email might have got into my spam folder. But shouldn't they send it also by post?
 
No I will start receiving it on 23rd of January

The decision was made on 22nd of August, which I only had 60 days to appeal, but wasn't aware of this decision. They sent sms about receiving application but none about awarding a pension. It's ridiculous
 
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@GeJoan
You are 66 on 23rd January 2026 ?

You have not started to get payments yet ?

If this is correct, phone DSP tomorrow and tell them your Prsi contributions record used in the calculation is incorrect.

You are entitled to get a COAP based on your correct Prsi record.

They will be obliged to take account of all your Prsi contributions up to your 66th birthday.
 
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My birthday is on 26th. Maybe they pay for the week in advance? No, they didn't start the payment yet.
 
I don't think you will have any problem with this.

But just to be certain, phone DSP and state that their calculation is incorrect. Ask them about the delay beyond 60 days to appeal.

In the unlikely event that they say you should have complained earlier, you can tell them that you want to defer your COAP.

You could then reapply to start your COAP on 27th January.
This is possible because you have not yet taken a payment.
 
I think I panicked too early. Now I've read this decision again and it looks like it is an interim decision up to the date of my application in August, so I think they will add my missing stamps. And probably will let me know their final decision in a proper way. Luckily for me there were no mistakes up to 22nd of August otherwise I would miss the deadline of an appeal of this decision. But I think it should be somehow wider known that they process it in this way...
 
@S class

If there's a 60 day appeal window, does that mean in theory, you should get told what you're going to get, at least 60 days before the payments should start?

I'm still not sure of the correct procedure. Someone in the Sligo office told me you get a text when they start processing your application. A few weeks later, a different person in that call centre told me that's nonsense, we don't texts to anyone, we only send letters.

As I've not had any kind of communication from them (only me contacting them), it sounds like I could be waiting a long time yet. It should have gone into payment 6 weeks ago.
 
Lisgoold said:
If there's a 60 day appeal window, does that mean in theory, you should get told what you're going to get, at least 60 days before the payments should start?
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My COAP award letter stated that an appeal must be made within 21 days of the date on the letter.

My notification letter was sent to the inbox in mywelfare.
In mywelfare you can request to be contacted by post or notifications into mywelfare. I am set up for notifications.

I get text messages if a new notification is sent to mywelfare.

Check out what notification is set up on your mywelfare.

Other than all this, I don't think that DSP could refuse to increase your COAP if after the initial pension award they discover that you have extra Prsi contributions that were not originally included. You are entitled to be paid your COAP based on all your reckonable Prsi contributions.

My award letter was sent 10 days before my 66th birthday. A friend who is 66 on 1st February 2026, received his award letter a few weeks ago.

In both cases the award letters were the only notifications.
No COAP award text messages were sent.

You will be entitled to backdated payments back to your 66th birthday.

It might be a good idea to request notifications to your mywelfare. It is easy to log in and check for new messages.

Other than that keep phoning them.
0818 200400 or 071 9157100
 
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I do have the basic version. I'll check!


Logged in. The last message on there is from January last year, just telling me they would post me a contribution statement which I had asked for, which they duly did.
 
Did DSP/SW tell you that you can't access MyWelfare from abroad? I would be surprised if that was the case. There must be many people abroad who need to do this. And plenty in Northern Ireland/UK and in the EU for example.
 
Lisgoold said:
I was told I can't set up my welfare, as I'm outside of Ireland.
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I don't think you have anything to worry about.
But obviously you are worrying.
You could send DSP a letter stating that you are concerned about the delay in awarding your COAP. In the letter state that your major concern is that you might not have time to appeal if you don't receive an award letter in time.

State Pension (Contributory),
Social Welfare Services Office,
College Road,
Sligo, F91 T384, Ireland.
 
:)
I'm only worrying in the sense of not knowing what's going on. As I said, if done properly, it would have started paying last month. Will it start next month? Three months time? A year?
It's the not knowing that's the problem. I'll give them another couple of weeks and make contact again if necessary.
 
The service provided by DSP seems to have deteriorated.

Some of their procedures leave a lot to be desired.

In my friends case he is pre 95 public sector.
He doesn't yet have 520 paid contributions.

He got 2 seperate pension award letters.

First letter stated that unfortunately he did not qualify for a COAP as he was short of 520 paid contributions.

Second letter stated he was awarded his COAP and did the calculation for a pro rata pension.

Luckily both letters arrived on the same day.

He has deferred the awarded pension and will get some employment after age 66 and then apply for a deferred pension on his 67th birthday.
 
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