Jobseeker's allowance and jobseeker's benefit is paid to people up to 66 years of age at which stage eligibility for a State Pension commences. There are three categories of State Pension to which a jobseeker client may be entitled — State Pension (Transition) which is paid at age 65, State Pension (Contributory) which is paid at age 66 and the means tested State Pension (Non-contributory) which is also paid at age 66.
There are a number of transitional arrangements in place for jobseeker clients moving onto State Pension:
They are automatically advised to apply for one of the State Pension payments three months in advance of reaching the eligible age;
Where a person's entitlement to jobseeker's benefit exhausts between age 65 and 66, they may continue to receive jobseeker's benefit up to 66 provided they have 156 paid social insurance contributions;
A number of people aged 55 and over who have left the labour force are in receipt of Pre-Retirement Allowance (PRETA) which is payable until they reach pension age. This is a means-tested payment and the people on this scheme are not required to sign-on as they do not need to be available for work. This scheme has been phased out for new clients from July 2007 in order to encourage and facilitate people to continue to work up to and beyond pension age.
There are no plans to introduce any other transitional arrangements for people approaching pension age.