Hi All, I've had a look around the site and can't find an answer to this question, so please give me your opinions.
I started employment in Ireland in 1980 and paid my Social Welfare Contributions for over 30 years. I emigrated in 2010.
Since I stopped being employed in Ireland I have no further contributions.
I'm currently 58 y.o. and wondering if I can claim an Irish Pension at some point.
I wrote to the folks at Welfare.ie and the answer I got was not that helpful - I was just told they can't comment on individual entitlements in future. They also told me that the Pensionable age will be incrementally increased in 2021 and 2028. I reckon my Pensionable Age (67) will currently be in 2026.
Meantime I have asked them for a statement of my contributions record.
I've heard that there is an option to make voluntary contributions to keep your Pension entitlements alive in a case like mine, but I have no idea how much that costs, or if I'm already too late to start making doing so.
If they are costly it might not be worth my while even making them, considering the risk that I might not live long enough to collect on them, or to enjoy them for very long. Perhaps saving the money would be more fruitful.
I realise this is a complex question, so I really appreciate any insights the experts here might have.
Many thanks!
I started employment in Ireland in 1980 and paid my Social Welfare Contributions for over 30 years. I emigrated in 2010.
Since I stopped being employed in Ireland I have no further contributions.
I'm currently 58 y.o. and wondering if I can claim an Irish Pension at some point.
I wrote to the folks at Welfare.ie and the answer I got was not that helpful - I was just told they can't comment on individual entitlements in future. They also told me that the Pensionable age will be incrementally increased in 2021 and 2028. I reckon my Pensionable Age (67) will currently be in 2026.
Meantime I have asked them for a statement of my contributions record.
I've heard that there is an option to make voluntary contributions to keep your Pension entitlements alive in a case like mine, but I have no idea how much that costs, or if I'm already too late to start making doing so.
If they are costly it might not be worth my while even making them, considering the risk that I might not live long enough to collect on them, or to enjoy them for very long. Perhaps saving the money would be more fruitful.
I realise this is a complex question, so I really appreciate any insights the experts here might have.
Many thanks!