Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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508. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the new benefit payment paid to persons at 65 years of age is not paid to persons who retired early and are not in receipt of a social welfare payment while having paid ample contributions over the years which enables them to qualify for the contributory pension at 66 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8731/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced the introduction of the new Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds. This fulfils a key commitment in the Programme for Government to provide a benefit payment for people who are aged 65 and who are required to or who chose to retire early, without a requirement to sign on, partake in any activation measures or be available for and genuinely seeking work.

This new payment is specifically designed to bridge the gap for people who retire at 65 but who do not qualify for the State Pension until they reach age 66.

Under the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, a person who retires at 65 can complete an online application and, if eligible, receive their payment for one year until they reach the State Pension age at 66.

Applicants must satisfy the PRSI conditionality for the scheme which includes having the required contributions in the Governing Contribution Year, which is the second last complete tax year. For example, for a claim in 2021, the second last complete tax year is 2019. This condition demonstrates a recent attachment to the workforce.

I trust that this clarifies the position for you.