The Department of Finance has agreed to a final extension, in the case of health service staff including doctors, in order to allow employees and former employees have previous part-time service count towards your pension entitlements.

This means you can bolster your public service pension based on time served previously within the public service on a part-time basis. Part-time working had not been allowed for pension reckoning purposes previously.

This final extension will allow individuals apply for and have reckoned any previous part-time service up to and including July 30, 2008.

According to the circular, which followed IMO discussions with the Department of Finance, retired employees who opt into the scheme in order to get pension based on their part-time service must pay the contributions for that service at the time of opting into the scheme. Serving employees can phase their back contributions and pay them up to March 30, 2010 or their date of retirement if that is earlier. IMO Financial Services can assist in arranging finance – contact Declan Gahan, Business Development Manager – dgahan@imo.ie.

The process of verifying previous part time service can be complicated. Applications, therefore, should be made at the earliest possible date if they have not already been made and should be addressed directly to your current employer or, in the case of retired doctors, your former employer.

Where you have already notified your employer of your wish to have that service reckoned, you should, at this point, make contact with the superannuation section to establish what progress has been made.

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