Elderly low-income farmers are being locked out of the State’s pension schemes, a new study has found. They are being forced to work into their 80s because they lack the financial security to retire.

The study by NUI Maynooth and Teagasc found that many low-income farmers do not qualify for the full State pension since they have not made sufficient PRSI contributions.

Some are also ineligible for the full non-contributory State pension because of the asset value of their farms.

The authors propose a new compulsory PRSI contribution system to give all farmers access to the full State pension.

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