Irish State Pension - Same for 2012 as 2011

Irish State Pension (Contributory)

Wishing you Nollaig shona = Happy Christmas.

This was going to be an interesting tidbit of a blog article on state pension increases in #Ireland for 2012, useful info for Irish ex-pats living in Greece and Cyprus and elsewhere. Sadly, according to the Finance Minister's 2012 budget, the state pension payments look set to stay the same from April 6, 2012 as they do currently.

That means someone who has paid 48 years or more of contributions will continue to receive €230.30 in Irish State Pension (Contributory).

There is a small blessing that some of the contribution amounts are to be reduced for those who are coming up to actual retirement. These and other retirement matters are being presented to the Irish Parliament in Dublin for approval for the amendments.

In 2011, already the pension age was raised from 65 to 66 years for anyone born on or after January 1st, 1948. It will be 67 years for anyone born on or after January 1, 1955 and 68 years for anyone born on or after January 1, 1961.

Two websites are worth a visit if you are eligible for Irish State Pension (Contributory). They are the Irish Government website on Pensions and the Irish Citizens Parliament Group (lobbiests on behalf of Irish Senior Citizens).

The link just below connects to useful Irish Contacts for ex-pats resident in Greece and Cyprus.