Sir, - Maud Ryan (July 14th) said that many women had to give up their jobs when they married and as a result lost all pension rights. Up to 1997 such a woman would have had to have an average of 20 weeks' insurance contributions paid annually to qualify for an old age contributory pension - an unattainable number for those who left work early. That year the then Minister, Dermot Ahern, introduced new rules to improve the situation. From November 1997 anybody with between 15 and 19 contributions per year on average received three-quarters of the weekly allowance and those with an average of 10 to 14 received half the full allowance.
This is not means-tested, but it is subject to income tax. It benefits housewives who had to leave work early because of marriage and/or those who later returned to work. Not a lot - but it is an improvement.
The pension does not come through automatically. One has to apply for it. Ms Ryan should write to the relevant office in Sligo to find out her rights long before her pension is due, so that she will get the correct sum from the start. - Yours, etc.,
Margery Brady, Greens Hill, Kilkenny.