Vol. 537 No. 1
165 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if claimants of the old age pension can take up employment; and if he will change the regulations to encourage more older people return to the workforce. [15399/01]
Until the 1970s the qualifying age for old age pensions was 70. In 1970, the retirement pension was introduced for contributors who retired at age 65. Eligibility for retirement pension is conditional on being fully retired from employment and/or self-employment. A person is regarded as being retired if his earnings from employment are less than £30 per week or from self-employment are less than £2,500 per annum.
In the period 1973 to 1975 the age at which a person became eligible for old age pensions, whether contributory or non-contributory, was progressively reduced from 70 to 66. Consequently, the retirement condition under the retirement pension scheme referred to above, only applies for a year, that is from age 65 to 66. A review of the qualifying conditions for old age contributory and retirement pensions is currently under way in my Department.
The terms of reference for the second phase 2 review include an examination of the current structure of contributory retirement pension arrangements. The question of whether the qualifying age for social welfare pension purposes should be raised or lowered together with associated labour market issues is among the specific issues being considered by the working group set up in this regard. I will consider the issue raised by the Deputy in the light of the report of the group, which will be available later this year.
