Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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1030. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in order to receive a BP65 form, persons must apply online (details supplied). [15675/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The new Benefit Payment for 65 year olds was introduced in fulfillment of a commitment in the Programme for Government to address the position of people who retire from employment at age 65. The quickest way to apply for the Benefit Payment for 65 year olds is through the MyWelfare online service. My Department fully accepts that there are people aged 65 who cannot or do not wish to use the online service but it is the Department’s experience that the vast majority of customers are able to access and avail of the enhanced customer service available through MyWelfare. For those who cannot or do not wish to use the online service, a postal service is available as an alternative.  The information regarding making an application by post is available on www.gov.ie at .

Alternatively customers can ring the Department’s Income Support Helpline at 1890 800 024 and request that a form to be posted to them or they have the option of calling into their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office to make enquiries. However, the Department is making every effort to make our services available to people online, by phone, by email or by post, so people do not need to visit one of our offices at this time.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.