Query on social welfare credits.

I'm just looking for some advice for a close friend in connection with social welfare credits.

They took early retirement in 2009 and were on jobseeker's benefit only for 6 months when they were diagnosed with a serious illness. They were on Illness Benefit for 2 years but this has terminated recently.

As they are now on the road to recovery they will not qualify for Disability Benefit.

They will be 60 in 2012.

Do they need to sign on for any type of credits in connection with their contributory pension?

How long will they qualify for optical and dental benefit and is there anything else important that they should be doing between now and old age pension qualification?

We have both had a read through the Citizen's Information website but find it very hard to follow and are afraid we will miss something in all the information contained on this page http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e.../credited_social_insurance_contributions.html

Thanks.

It is very important to sign for credits if your friend is not in receipt of any SW payment as this is the way to protect pension entitlement.

Qualified at 60

If you qualify for treatment (optical or dental) benefit at age 60, you retain that entitlement for life.