advice on retiring early from public sector & engaging with social welfare process

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FiscalInsight

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Have 10 years service in the University sector, 5 years of AVC payments at the maximum rate. UK pension (Class 2) with 20 years of NIC contributions. Prior to working in the public sector I was self employed for 20 years and employed prior to that. I am 62 and want to retire next year. My question is whether (a) I will qualify for Job Seeker’s benefit immediately on retiring (4 months before my 63rd birthday) and if I will then transition automatically to Job Seeker’s allowance until I qualify for the state pension (2) While I know I will not be required to engage with the ‘compulsory activation process’, will I be required to actively seek work and/or produce evidence of seeking work (letters of application for jobs etc) as I don’t intend to do this...(3) What else do I need to do in order to keep my 'stamps' up to date to qualify for the state pension? Thank you in advance for advice.
 
Read through this thread. Most of the information you are asking about is there.

Jobseekers allowance is means tested. If you have income after retirement you might not pass the means test.

Jobseekers Benefit is not means tested.

You can apply online for a few jobs and print off the applications as evidence of seeking employment.

Key Post - PRSI and planning retirement

This Key Post is in the form of a FAQ where I don't know many of the answers. I will update the post as I get answers. 1. PRSI payable on reaching state pension age Answer: 0 (Class M) 1a. Does this relate to the start of the tax year in which you become 66? Or to after your birthday? Answer...
www.askaboutmoney.com
 
@FiscalInsight
If you retire when you stated and claim Jobseekers benefit and then continue to sign on for Jobseekers credits after the payments end, you will also qualify for Benefit Payment 65 from your 65th birthday up to your 66th birthday. (BP65 is not means tested)
 
Thank you. I was confused about whether I needed to work until after my 63rd birthday (b'day is at the end of the year - November) to have the 39 weeks in that year. And will signing on for credits be sufficient to keep my 'stamps' up to date or will I need to earn income in addition to a (very) small pension from work...in order to keep these paid up?
 
@FiscalInsight
Jobseekers credits are all that's needed in the year of your 63rd birthday for BP 65.
Your previous paid contributions count back to age 61.

Provided you have at least 520 paid contributions (mixture of class A or S), Jobseekers credits are then equal to paid contributions for pension purposes.
 
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