Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds, provided under the Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker’s Benefit (Self-Employed) social insurance schemes, was introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. 

The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66, i.e., for those who can demonstrate a recent attachment to the workforce. The social insurance contribution requirements are not as high as for receipt of the State Pension (Contributory), and people retiring at age 65, given their recent attachment to the workforce, should, in most cases, meet the required PRSI conditionality.

According to the Department’s records, the person concerned does not meet the requirements for entitlement to the Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds.  The information shows that the individual was last in PAYE insurable employment in 2016, at which time they made Class A PRSI contributions. The timeline of these contributions is not recent enough for eligibility for the payment.

I recently signed a Regulation which provides those self-employed contributors who have recently lost their usual self-employment business and in receipt of an Approved Retirement Fund may be eligible for the payment. However, information available to the Department advises that the person concerned was not previously operating a self-employed business. 

The person concerned therefore does not meet the conditions of the payment. I hope that this clarifies the position.