A friend of mine who was a HSE employee will be 60 years of age in December and will be entitled to her preserved benefits lump sum and a small pension. She has no other form of income apart from some savings which she has been using to fund her living expenses. As her pension will be small, would she be entitled to any form of supplementary payment from social welfare? She has not worked for a few years but has made significant PRSI contributions which will provide her with a contributory old age pension at the age of 66. What benefits if any could she apply for between now and then?