Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1981

Statutory conditions.

[1908 OAP, s. 2; 1976 (No. 2), s. 13; 1977, s. 13; 1978, s. 3]

159.—(1) The statutory conditions for the receipt of an old age pension by any person are—

(a) the person must have attained pensionable age;

(b) the person must satisfy the pension authorities that he has had his residence in the State for an aggregate period of not less than 15 years; and

[1924 OAP, s. 8; 1980, s. 3]

(c) the person must satisfy the pension authorities that his means as calculated in accordance with the Rules contained in the Third Schedule do not exceed the appropriate highest amount of means at which pension may be paid to that person in accordance with section 161 .

[1932 OAP, s. 2]

(2) In computing for the purposes of the statutory condition imposed by subsection (1) (b) the period of residence of any person in the State, any temporary absence from the State not exceeding 6 months in such period and any residence in the late United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in such period before 6th December, 1922, and any absence from the State in such period during which such person has maintained or assisted in maintaining any dependant in the State, shall be reckoned in and form part of such period.

[1952, s. 80]

(3) Where a woman was, immediately before she attained pensionable age, entitled to a widow's (non-contributory) pension, it shall not be necessary for the statutory condition imposed by subsection (1) (b) to be satisfied in her case.