Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1177. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the recently announced benefit payment for 65 year olds in order that each person, irrespective of their record of PRSI contributions is eligible for this payment from the date at which they are 65; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19852/21]
View answerThe Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseekers Benefit scheme, has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66.
This new benefit payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. Recipients of the payment are not required to sign on, engage in activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work which is normally the case for recipients of a Jobseeker’s payment.
To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme including the PRSI social insurance contribution requirement.
The social insurance contribution requirements are not as high as for receipt of the State Pension, and people retiring at age 65, given they have a recent attachment to the workforce, should in most cases meet the required PRSI conditionality.
Where a person does not qualify for the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds they may be eligible for support under the means tested Jobseekers Allowance scheme subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions of that scheme.
There are no plans to amend the conditions of the scheme and I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
