Eligibility for 65 yr. payment.

If you have enough PRSI contributions then yes.

But if you're referring to the State Contributory Pension, then you'll have to wait until your 66th birthday.
 
But you will be able to draw the Payment for 65 year olds, between 65 and 66 (assuming you have sufficient PRSI stamps). This is the same amount as the Jobseekers Benefit. And then at 66 you will presumably qualify for the State Retirement Pension.
 
Yes, I should have no problem with the PRSI stamps, I was just worried the ARF might disqualify me.
Thanks for the clarification.
 
But you will be able to draw the Payment for 65 year olds, between 65 and 66 (assuming you have sufficient PRSI stamps).
I presume for the 1 year in question here that the sufficient PRSI stamps one requires to get employment benifit for any one year during their working life ? or is it dependent on whether you have enough stamps for a full pension ?
 
You need to be careful to ensure that you meet the PRSI requirements for the governing year. This is the year you reach the age of 63.

If you have an ARF you can qualify if you get 52 S class contributions for the governing year. Otherwise if you are retired and claiming A class credits you will need at least 26 credits and 13 paid A class contributions for the governing year.

There is flexibility regarding the year the 13 A class paid contributions can be made. This is explained on Revenue website.

If you are older than 63 and have less than 52 S class or 39 A class contributions for your governing year you have missed the opportunity to claim this 65 year olds' payment. If you are retired before age 63 and claiming A class credits you will need to get 13 weeks of employment in order to get the 13 paid contributions..
 
I'm looking at retiring early and the previous thread's last link is very helpful to explain the rules around the governing year. It indicates a flexability to the paid 13 weeks as mentioned by bstop, and if the 13 paid are not available for the governing year, can use other years as indicated by the astrix. Anyone agree or disagree? Its the most confusing conditional requirements test I've read. I just want to be sure I qualify before I move to retirement!

Taken from the "Citizens' Information - payment for people who retire at 65" link

*If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the governing contribution year, you must have paid 13 contributions in any of the following years:

  • The 2 years before the governing contribution year
  • The last complete governing contribution year
  • The current governing contribution year
 
Anyone agree or disagree? Its the most confusing conditional requirements test I've read. I just want to be sure I qualify before I move to retirement!

@wallym

To be sure, to be sure it is best to contact them and confirm your eligibility before going any further. This is their advice:

'Should you have any queries in relation to your pension entitlements, please contact Pension Section on 0818 200 400 or visit the relevant page on the Department’s website at:

https://www.gov.ie/en/service/e6f908-state-pension-contributory/#how-to-qualify.

Alternatively, you may wish to contact your local Intreo Centre, Citizens Information Centre or you may write to the Pension Section at the following address: State Pension (Contributory) Section, DSP, College Road, Co. Sligo'
 
Although meeting the requirements for this payment I was recently turned down on the basis that I was "in employment" due to my investment income. :mad:
 
You could try appealing the decision on the basis that it is subsidiary employment.
 
Although meeting the requirements for this payment I was recently turned down on the basis that I was "in employment" due to my investment income. :mad:

@Shirazman

How can that be either you are unemployed or not which surely should meet their criteria?

Would have to agree with bstop that you should appeal that decision.

Am thinking of applying for this payment in the new year and beginning to wonder about the whole thing really. Have contacted the Helpline and been referred to my local Intreo office who I was told deal with these payments. Did you have to deal with them? Can't contact them on phone so thinking of trying to make an appointment by e-mail and see if I qualify.

I know it can be applied for, if straightforward application, on the mygovid.ie website.
 
@Shirazman

How can that be either you are unemployed or not which surely should meet their criteria?

Would have to agree with bstop that you should appeal that decision.

I know it can be applied for, if straightforward application, on the mygovid.ie website.

I pay Class S PRSI on my investment income which, according to the Deciding Officer, means that I am "in employment".

Too late to appeal now, the 21 days' period is long gone.

I applied online through MyGov, adding a note that informed them that I had ARF income.
 
You could try appealing the decision on the basis that it is subsidiary employment.

Thanks, but as mentioned above, I'm past the appeal deadline. I only applied because you kindly made me aware of the payment, so I wasn't too put out when I was refused. Anyway, I'll be getting my Contrib State Pension in a few weeks' time, so I'll leave the hare sit.
 
I pay Class S PRSI on my investment income which, according to the Deciding Officer, means that I am "in employment".
I also started to pay S class on investment income. Before this I registered as a job seeker to get A class credits. When I started paying S class I phoned social welfare to inform them, as I presumed I would no longer quality for A credits. I was told that I was still eligible to sign on for A credits and the welfare officer told me that they always encourage people to keep signing on for credits.

So my current position is that I am registered as a job seeker which I presume is the same as registered unemployed and I have an Investment income on which I pay S class, which as you were told would mean that I am "in employment".

It seems to me that the only way this could be explained is if the investment income is considered as subsidiary employment.

Were you signing on for A credits?
 
Just to update, I turned 65 on the 20th of December and applied online for 65yr payment on the 22nd. Got notification on the 23rd
that my application had been awarded and 1st payment on Dec. 30th. Brilliant service, very simple application, and very quick decision,
well done to all concerned.
 
Couldn't as I had been playing Class D before my retirement.
Okay, so you were not registered as a job seeker and considered unemployed. Maybe then you could not claim your "investment employment" as subsidiary employment.

I have sent an email to Welfare to enquire if I will qualify.
I phoned today and asked if investment income would be considered as "employment" and prevent me from qualifying and the welfare official didn't seem to think it would. She basically said that that the payment was not means tested.

I had presumed that I would qualify but your experience has made me unsure.
The qualifying criteria for the payment are confusing to say the least and as it is a relatively new payment, I would wonder if all the Deciding Officers in the different Intreo centers are applying the same rules.
 
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Can't contact them on phone so thinking of trying to make an appointment by e-mail and see if I qualify.
You can email your local Intreo center with your qualification queries and the Deciding Officer will reply to you.
 
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