Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005

Chapter 4

Voluntary Contributors and Voluntary Contributions

Voluntary contributors.

[1993 s21(1); 1997 s12(2)]

24.—(1) Subject to this Act, where a person ceases to be—

(a) an employed contributor, or

(b) a self-employed contributor,

otherwise than by reason of attaining pensionable age and the person has qualifying contributions in respect of not less than 260 contribution weeks, he or she shall, on making application in the prescribed manner and within the prescribed period, be entitled to become an insured person paying contributions under this Act voluntarily (in this Act referred to as “a voluntary contributor”).

[1993 s21(2)]

(2) The occupational injuries insurance of a person shall be disregarded in determining the person’s right to become, or to continue to be, a voluntary contributor and the rate of voluntary contribution payable in any case shall not be affected by that insurance.

[1993 s21(3)]

(3) A voluntary contributor shall—

(a) where he or she becomes an employed contributor, cease to be a voluntary contributor except insofar as is provided in section 25 (2), or

(b) where he or she becomes a self-employed contributor, cease to be a voluntary contributor.