Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005

Rates of optional contributions and related matters.

[1993 (No.2) s4; 2004 s6(1)]

29

29.—F244[(1) F245[Subject to section 38BA, an optional contributor shall] pay an optional contribution amounting to F246[4.2 per cent] of his or her reckonable income in excess of €2,500 in the preceding contribution year, or €200, whichever is the greater amount.]

[1993 (No.2) s4]

(2) Subject to regulations under section 30, where an optional contribution has been paid by an optional contributor of not less than the amount that he or she is liable to pay under subsection (1), he or she shall be regarded as having paid contributions for each contribution week in that contribution year and, where the contribution paid is less than that appropriate amount, no contribution shall be regarded as having been paid by the optional contributor in respect of any week of that contribution year.

[1993 (No.2) s4; 2001 s37 & Sch F]

(3) Regulations may provide for adjustments in the calculation of amounts payable in respect of optional contributions to facilitate computation and for the elimination from optional contributions of amounts of not more than 5 cent and for the rounding up of amounts of more than 5 cent but less than 10 cent to 10 cent.

[1993 (No.2) s4]

(4)  (a) Subject to paragraph (b), optional contributions shall be disregarded in determining whether the contribution conditions for any benefit other than F247[illness benefit], F248[jobseeker’s benefit] F249[, jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed)] or treatment benefit are satisfied.

(b) The contribution conditions for the benefits referred to in paragraph (a) shall not be regarded as being satisfied unless all optional contributions payable by an optional contributor in accordance with this Chapter have been paid.

Annotations

Amendments:

F244

Substituted (1.01.2011) by Social Welfare Act 2010 (34/2010), s. 11(1)(d), commenced as per subs. (2).

F245

Substituted (1.10.2024) by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (24/2024), s. 7, commenced as per s. 1(5).

F246

Substituted (1.10.2025) by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(2) and Table, amendment 12, col. (5), commenced as per subs. (2).

F247

Substituted (2.10.2006) by Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (5/2006), s. 4(1) and sch. 1 item 15, S.I. No. 334 of 2006.

F248

Substituted (5.10.2006) by Social Welfare Law Reform and Pensions Act 2006 (5/2006), s. 4(1) and sch. 1 item 6, S.I. No. 334 of 2006.

F249

Inserted (1.11.2019) by Social Welfare Act 2019 (34/2019), s. 6 and sch. item 5, S.I. No. 550 of 2019.

F250

Substituted by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(5) and Table, amendment 12, col. (8), to come into effect (1.10.2028) as per subs. (5).

F251

Substituted by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(4) and Table, amendment 12, col. (7), to come into effect (1.10.2027) as per subs. (4).

F252

Substituted by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(3) and Table, amendment 12, col. (6), to come into effect (1.10.2026) as per subs. (3).

Modifications (not altering text):

C26

Prospective affecting provision: subs. (1) amended by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(5) and Table, amendment 12, col. (8), to come into effect (1.10.2028) as per subs. (5).

29.—F244[(1) F245[Subject to section 38BA, an optional contributor shall] pay an optional contribution amounting to F250[4.7 per cent] of his or her reckonable income in excess of €2,500 in the preceding contribution year, or €200, whichever is the greater amount.]

C27

Prospective affecting provision: subs. (1) amended by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(4) and Table, amendment 12, col. (7), to come into effect (1.10.2027) as per subs. (4).

29.—F244[(1) F245[Subject to section 38BA, an optional contributor shall] pay an optional contribution amounting to F251[4.5 per cent] of his or her reckonable income in excess of €2,500 in the preceding contribution year, or €200, whichever is the greater amount.]

C28

Prospective affecting provision: subs. (1) amended by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(3) and Table, amendment 12, col. (6), to come into effect (1.10.2026) as per subs. (3).

29.—F244[(1) F245[Subject to section 38BA, an optional contributor shall] pay an optional contribution amounting to F252[4.35 per cent] of his or her reckonable income in excess of €2,500 in the preceding contribution year, or €200, whichever is the greater amount.]

Editorial Notes:

E184

Power pursuant to subs. (3) exercised (1.07.2013) by Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) (Amendment) (No. 2) (Contributions by Certain Employed Contributors) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 236 of 2013), art. 4; which amended Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (S.I. No. 312 of 1996), art. 50(1).

E185

Power pursuant to statutory precursor of subs. (3) exercised (1.11.1996) by Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) Regulations 1996 (S.I. No. 312 of 1996), art. 50, in effect as per art. 2; amended (1.01.2002) by Social Welfare (Consolidated Contributions and Insurability) (Amendment) (No. 6) (Euro) Regulations 2001 (S.I. No. 613 of 2001), art. 4 and sch.; continued in force (1.12.2005) by s. 362(2) as if made under this Act.

E186

Previous affecting provision: subs. (1) amended (1.10.2024) by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024(24/2024), s. 3(1) and Table, amendment 12, col. (4), commenced as per subs. (1); substituted (1.10.2025) as per F-Note above.

E187

Previous affecting provision: subs. 1(b) amended (1.05.2009) by Social Welfare And Pensions Act 2009 (10/2009), s. 4(1), commenced as per subs. (2); substituted (1.01.2011) as per F-Note above.

E188

Previous affecting provision: subs. 1(b) amended (1.01.2009) by Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 (22/2008), s. 7(1), commenced as per subs. (2); substituted (1.05.2009) as per E-Note above.

E189

Previous affecting provision: subs. 1(b) amended (1.01.2008) by Social Welfare Act 2007 (40/2007), s. 6(1), commenced as per subs. (2); substituted (1.01.2009) as per E-Note above.

E190

Previous affecting provision: subs. 1(b) amended (1.01.2007) by Social Welfare Act 2006 (36/2006), s. 6(1), commenced as per subs. (2); substituted (1.01.2008) as per E-Note above.

E191

Previous affecting provision: subs. 1(b) amended (1.01.2006) by Social Welfare Act 2005 (30/2005), s. 6(1), commenced as per subs. (2); substituted (1.01.2007) as per E-Note above.