DEAR SIR: Are you a farmer, self-employed or working in the private sector? Are you in your mid to late 50s? If you can answer yes to these questions, then I have bad news for you – you will not receive your State pension until you are 68 years old. The government has been increasing the pension age from 65 years up to 68 years of age, without most people affected by the decision being made aware of this situation.
However, this doesn’t apply to the public sector - State employees will still retire at 65 and get their pension (indeed, they may be offered early retirement and receive a pension much earlier) but old farmers, tradespeople and those in the private sector will not obtain the pension until the age of 68. This means that we will be forced to keep working when we are not fit and/or use up our meagre savings.
All will suffer stress and worry at a vulnerable time in our lives, as well as suffering financial hardship. We paid out social insurance payments (as State employees paid into their pensions) and we are entitled to obtain the benefits of our labours and have the security at the age of 65 of a small State pension.
ADVERTISEMENT
I ask people affected by this issue and all fair-minded people to make this an issue on the doorsteps during this election. I also wonder whether Leo Varadkar, and indeed all other politicians, will wait for their Dáil pension until the age of 68?
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
DEAR SIR: Are you a farmer, self-employed or working in the private sector? Are you in your mid to late 50s? If you can answer yes to these questions, then I have bad news for you – you will not receive your State pension until you are 68 years old. The government has been increasing the pension age from 65 years up to 68 years of age, without most people affected by the decision being made aware of this situation.
However, this doesn’t apply to the public sector - State employees will still retire at 65 and get their pension (indeed, they may be offered early retirement and receive a pension much earlier) but old farmers, tradespeople and those in the private sector will not obtain the pension until the age of 68. This means that we will be forced to keep working when we are not fit and/or use up our meagre savings.
All will suffer stress and worry at a vulnerable time in our lives, as well as suffering financial hardship. We paid out social insurance payments (as State employees paid into their pensions) and we are entitled to obtain the benefits of our labours and have the security at the age of 65 of a small State pension.
I ask people affected by this issue and all fair-minded people to make this an issue on the doorsteps during this election. I also wonder whether Leo Varadkar, and indeed all other politicians, will wait for their Dáil pension until the age of 68?
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS