Farmers’ spouses applying for social welfare benefits

MORE and more farmers’ spouses are qualifying for contributory state pension and other social welfare benefits by applying to have a commercial partnership retrospectively recognised.

Social and Family Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin told the Dáil, “Spouses of self-employed contributors, who are actively engaged in a commercial partnership, including the operation of a farm, can apply to the Department to have the commercial partnership formally recognised, and to be treated as an individual self-employed contributor. In this way, both spouses incur a liability to pay Class S self-employed PRSI, which can count towards qualification for State Pension (Contributory) and other social welfare benefits.”

Replying to a Dáil question from Deputy Michael Ring, she said, “Of the 713 applications to have a commercial partnership retrospectively recognised, received by the Department, 633 are in respect of farm partnerships. To-date, 202 applicants have been issued with decisions, some 80% have been granted and 20% disallowed. No statistical information is maintained on State Pension (Contributory) applications arising from retrospectively recognised commercial partnerships. Such pension applications are dealt with as part of the normal claim load.”