Publication
State Pension (Contributory) Rates
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
Under the current rules, your rate of payment for the State Pension (Contributory) will be calculated using a ‘Yearly Average’ method or an ‘Total Contributions Approach’ (TCA), with the more beneficial rate of these being paid to you.
Under the Yearly average rule, your average is reached by combining social insurance contributions, both paid and credited, and dividing by the number of years between entry into the Social Insurance system and reaching pension age. Your yearly average will dictate the rate of payment you receive, with the maximum rate of pension payable to someone with a Yearly average of at least 48, and the minimum payment being paid to someone with a yearly average of at least 10.
A Total Contributions Approach (TCA) arrangement is in place since 30 March 2018 and is applicable to those with a date of birth on or after 1 September 1946. This approach has three elements to it. The Department takes into account:
To receive the maximum rate of payment under the TCA, you must have 2,080 contributions and credits (equivalent to 40 years). If you have less than 2,080 contributions and credits your rate will be a percentage of the maximum rate of pension.
The maximum rate of State pension contributory is €277.30 regardless of whether you have been assessed using the Yearly Average Method, or the Total Contributions Approach. The Yearly Average method has distinct rate bands for reduced rate awards, while the Total Contributions Approach will be a pro rata rate depending on the number of contributions you have, where those contributions are less than 2080 contributions.
The department will always award the most favourable rate to you, having considered the various calculations.
| Yearly average contributions (SPC) | Personal Weekly Rate | Increase for Qualified Adult Aged under 66 | Increase for Qualified Adult Aged 66 or over |
| 48 or over | €277.30 | €184.70 | €248.60 |
| 40-47 | €271.90 | €175.80 | €236.10 |
| 30-39 | €249.30 | €167.20 | €223.90 |
| 20-29 | €236.10 | €156.50 | €210.70 |
| 15-19 | €180.70 | €120.40 | €161.40 |
| 10-14 | €110.80 | €73.40 | €99.90 |
| Total Contributions Approach (SPC) | Personal Weekly Rate | Increase for Qualified Adult Aged under 66 | Increase for Qualified Adult Aged 66 or over |
| 2,080 or over | €277.30 | €184.70 | €248.60 |
You can get a weekly increase for each qualified child if you get an increase for a qualified adult, or if you are parenting alone. If you do not qualify for an increase for a qualified adult, you may get a half-rate qualified child increase.
| Increases: | Weekly rate | |
| Each qualified child aged | Under 12 years | 12 years and over |
| Full rate | €46.00 | €54.00 |
| Half-rate | €23.00 | €27.00 |
| Living Alone Increase | €22.00 | |
| Extra increase for people age 80 or over | €10.00 | |
| Increase for people living on certain offshore islands | €20.00 |