Forget about BP65.
For a person aged between 65 and 66, Jobseekers Benefit is exactly the same as BP65.
Jobseekers Benefit for age 65 to 66 is always paid at the full rate of 232 euro regardless of your previous class A earnings. It is also paid up to age 66 regardless of whether your entitlement to 9 months would have run out before then.
You don't need to be available for or seeking work and you don't need to sign on.
There are restrictions to BP65 which limits subsidiary earnings to 7500 euro.
With Jobseekers Benefit there is no limit to your subsidiary earnings.
The only rules you need to meet is that you must have had your investment income for a period of at least 117 weeks and your class A employment must have run for a minimum of 26 weeks before you ceased it.
If you meet these rules and have the required class A stamps for the last few years you will qualify for Jobseekers Benefit.
Apply now you have nothing to loose.
Hi S class,
Thanks for your very prompt response. I owe you more than a few pints at this stage. I will 100% follow up on Jobseekers Benefit.
As usual I am a bit confused: Is it only on A contributions which I could claim? [>= Dec date]
(can/cannot I try to claim from Nov date as presumably from your comments Class A (€1,200 pa) in itself would be subsidiary and investment income would not be considered subsidiary. If so then I could resume my Class A employment( €1,200 pa) in the future.
[my confusion arises due to mentions of Class S below.
(1)“To qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit, you must pay Class A, H or P PRSI contributions.”
(2)“To qualify you need:
At least 104 weeks of Class A, H or P PRSI paid contributions or at least
156 Class S PRSI contributions since you first started work.
AND
39 weeks of A, H or P PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (a minimum of 13 weeks must be paid contributions)”
Thanks for clarifying that full rate would apply as I had thought I would have had to have average pay of €300 or more per week.
QUESTIONS would be grateful if you could please answer separately (so that I am fully clear).
Q1. What date Nov (Class S ) OR Dec (Class A) should I attempt to have my Jobseekers Benefit back dated to?
Q2. In the 65-66 bracket-does the nine-month payment period apply or does payment apply until transferring to State Pension at 66.
Q3. If I draw down my personal pension (4% ARF) whilst in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit, does it have any implications (apart from taxation etc. payable)
and finally, curiosity has the better of me re BP65 as it is now seems redundant in my case. but the reasoning escapes me
Q4 (In context FROM MSG 5 )
What do you see as the specific reasoning that I cannot qualify for BP65 from the date I ceased my Class A employment in Dec 23?
(as a Class A claim rather than a Class S claim) SEE EARLIER MSG.
Many thanks.
I am really grateful for the education, just wish I had asked the questions in the right place four months ago. Thanks again for all inputs.