Applying for the State Pension (Contributory) from 2025

From 2025, how your State Pension (Contributory) rate is calculated is changing. The Yearly Average method of calculation will begin to be phased out over a 10-year period. By 2034, all rates of payment will be calculated using only the Total Contribution Approach method.

Here we explain how you can qualify for the State Pension (Contributory), and how the Yearly Average (YA) and Total Contributions Approach (TCA) will determine your rate of payment.

The rules for getting the State Pension (Contributory) can be complex. You should apply for the State Pension (Contributory) if you have ever worked in Ireland and have paid PRSI contributions (stamps) at any time.

The State Pension (Contributory) is not means tested. You can get the State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work or have other income such as an occupational pension.

You can get the State Pension (Contributory) from the age of 66 if you have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

You can choose to defer claiming your State Pension (Contributory) up to age 70.

Retiring early

If you retire early, check if you need to pay voluntary PRSI contributions or get credited contributions (if you are eligible) to help you get a contributory pension when you reach pension age.

If you retire at 65, you may qualify for a benefit payment until you reach 66.

You can also read our pages about early retirement, and retiring from work.

If you were a homemaker or took time out of work to care for someone, you may be entitled to pension caring supports. Depending on your circumstances, you can use these supports to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or to get a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory).

There are 3 pension caring supports:

• Homemaker’s Scheme (only used when averaging contributions to calculate State Pension (Contributory) rate)
• HomeCaring Periods (only used when using Total Contributions Approach to calculate State Pension (Contributory) rate)
• Long-Term Carers Contributions

You can use Long-Term Carers Contributions and HomeCaring Periods Scheme together, as long as the periods of care don’t overlap.

You don’t need to apply for each scheme separately. You only need to fill in one application form, called the PCS1 form. This form is not available to download, but you can ask the Pension Caring Supports Section of the DSP to send you a form by post.

If you have a MyGovID account, you can also apply for the pension caring support schemes online at MyWelfare.ie.

I already get a pension, can my weekly rate be reviewed?

If you are over 66 and already get a pension, but you think you may be entitled to pension caring supports, contact the Pension Caring Supports and ask to have your pension reviewed.

To qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), you must be aged 66 or over, and have enough Class A, E, F, G, H, N, or S social insurance contributions (PRSI).

Check your social insurance record

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) has a record of all your PRSI contributions. You can request a copy of your contribution statement using MyWelfare.ie.

To get a State Pension (Contributory), you must:

1. Have started paying PRSI at least 10 years before you draw down your pension
2. Have a certain number of full-rate PRSI contributions
3. Have enough PRSI contributions - these can be paid, credited and voluntary contributions - see 'How to calculate your State Pension (Contributory) rate in 2025' below

1. You must have started making PRSI contributions at least 10 years before you draw down your pension

To get a State Pension (Contributory) at 66, you must have started paying PRSI before the age of 56. If you are deferring your pension, you must have started paying PRSI at least 10 years before you draw down your pension.

Entry into insurance

The date you first started paying PRSI is called your date of ‘entry into insurance’. Your ‘entry into insurance’ is the date of the first paid PRSI contribution made when you started your first job. However, this may not be the case if you either:

• Have mixed PRSI contributions
• Were self-employed

Mixed PRSI contributions and entry into insurance

There are special rules if you have a mix of full-rate PRSI contributions and modified-rate contributions. Modified-rate social insurance contributions are PRSI contributions at Classes B, C and D (paid by civil and public servants recruited before 1995).

If you have mixed PRSI contributions and you paid your first full-rate employment contribution before 6 April 1991, your entry into insurance can be the date you first started paying the full rate of PRSI, if that would be to your advantage.

If you started to pay full-rate PRSI after 6 April 1991, your entry into insurance is the date you first paid any social insurance.

Self-employed people and entry into insurance

There are special rules on entry into insurance for self-employed people. PRSI for self-employed people was introduced on 6 April 1988. If you started paying self-employed PRSI on 6 April 1988 and had previously paid employee PRSI at any time, then your date of entry into insurance can be either 6 April 1988, or the date when you first paid employee PRSI, whichever would give you a higher rate of pension.

If you started paying self-employed PRSI after 6 April 1988, your date of entry into insurance is the date your first contribution was paid.

2. You must have a certain number of full-rate PRSI contributions

The number of full-rate PRSI contributions you need for the State Pension (Contributory) depends on your retirement date.

If you reach pension age on or after 6 April 2012, you need to have 520 full-rate PRSI contributions (10 years’ contributions), or, if at least 260 full-rate employment contributions are paid, the balance of the 520 can be made up with high-rate voluntary contributions. Full-rate PRSI contributions are contributions paid at Class A, E, F, G, H, N, or S.

Once you have at least 520 reckonable contributions, you will qualify for a rate of State Pension (Contributory).

3. You must have enough PRSI contributions

Once you meet the qualification criteria for the State Pension (Contributory) (see 1 and 2 above), the rate of payment you get depends on the number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions you have made. You may not get a State Pension (Contributory), if you don't have enough PRSI contributions - see ‘How to calculate your State Pension (Contributory) rate in 2025’ below.

If you don't get a State Pension (Contributory) or you don't qualify for the maximum rate, you should check if you qualify for a State Pension (Non-Contributory).

From 1 January 2025, if you were born on or after 1 January 1959, your pension rate will be calculated using:

Method 1: The ‘Total Contributions Approach (TCA)'

OR

Method 2: A combination of the ‘Yearly Average’ (YA) and the 'Total Contributions Approach' (TCA)

If you would receive less than the maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate using Method 1 (TCA), the Department will calculate a rate using Method 2. You will get whichever rate is greater.

Find out about the State Pension (Contributory) for people who applied before 1 January 2025.

Method 1: Total Contributions Approach (TCA)

The TCA method uses your total number of contributions before you reach the age of 66 or the age you defer your pension to.

Using the TCA method, you will qualify for the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory), if you have 2,080 or more PRSI contributions (for example, 40 years of employment).

The TCA calculation takes into account:

• Full-rate PRSI contributions from paid employment or self-employment
• High-rate and special voluntary contributions
• The HomeCaring Periods Scheme and Long-Term Carers Contributions for time you spent caring. You can use Long-Term Carers Contributions and the HomeCaring Periods Scheme together, as long as the periods of care do not overlap.
• Up to 10 years credited contributions. However, your combined HomeCaring Periods and credited contributions cannot total more than 1,040 (20 years).

If your combined total of paid contributions from work, voluntary contributions, Long-Term Carer's Contributions, HomeCaring Periods and credited contributions is at least 2,080, you will get the maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate. If it is less than 2,080, you will qualify for a reduced rate of pension.

For example:

A combined total of 1,040 contributions, made up of HomeCaring Periods and paid contributions, would entitle you to 50% of the maximum pension (1040 / 2080 = 50%).

Method 2: Yearly Average (YA) and TCA method combined

In 2025, your State Pension (Contributory) (SPC) rate can be a combined rate using:

• 90% of the rate calculated using the YA method and 
• 10% of the rate calculated using the TCA method (see above)

How to calculate your SPC using the Yearly Average (YA) method

The Yearly Average (YA) method calculates the average number of contributions you have made each year, from the year you first entered insurance, to the end of the tax year before you reach pension age.

You need an average of 10 contributions a year, paid or credited, to get a minimum pension, and you need an average of 48 a year to get the maximum pension.

Your yearly average is rounded to the nearest number. For example, 9.4 is rounded down to 9 and 47.5 is rounded up to 48.

If you spent time working in the home (caring)

The DSP can ‘disregard’ (not take into account) up to 20 years spent as a homemaker when calculating your yearly average. The Homemakers’ Scheme can only be used when calculating your yearly average number of contributions.

If you started work before 1979

If you started work before 1979 the DSP can assess your Yearly Average using just your record after 1979, if it would help you qualify – this is called the Alternative Yearly Average.

State Pension (Contributory) rates in 2025 using the Total Contributions Approach (TCA)

State Pension (Contributory) rates in 2025 using the Yearly Average (YA) approach

Online application

You can apply for your State Pension (Contributory) online at MyWelfare.ie if you have a verified MyGovID account.

Paper application

Download and complete a State Pension application form (SPC1) (pdf).

You can also get an application form from:

• Your local post office
• Your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office
• Gov.ie (download and print)

Getting help with your application

If you need help with your State Pension (Contributory) application, you can contact your local Citizens Information Centre.

You reach pension age at 66, but you can defer your pension up to age 70.

There will be a 10-year phased removal of the Yearly Average method, which means that all pensions will be calculated using only the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) by 2034.

From 2025-2034, both the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) and the Yearly Average (YA) method will be used to calculate your SPC rate. The ratio or percentage used depends on the year you draw down your State Pension (Contributory) (see table below).

By 2034, all pensions for people born on or after 1 January 1968, will be calculated using only the TCA method.