Secret plan to strip state pension from part-time workers

Part-time workers are facing the threat of being cut off from the state pension in the budget.

At the moment, part-time workers can qualify for a €233 per week contributory state pension on retirement if they earn €38 per week - the equivalent of four hours’ work.

Department of Social Protection officials believe that this benefit is “disproportionate”. A change is being considered due to the rising cost of the state pension, which ...