State pension transition

Hi guys,

My father is 65 in a few months. According to http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments/older-and-retired-people/retirement_pension he should apply for a transition pension. However there appears to be a contradiction.

1/ You are advised to apply 4 months before reaching 65, presumably due to delays.
2/ You cannot apply until retired.

Surely most people will not retire until they are 65? So strictly speaking they cannot apply 4 months in advance? Is one supposed to apply in advance assuming that by the time anyone looks at the form they will be retired?! Or is there an assumption that people will receive no payments for an least 4 months after retirement?

Edit: On reading the actual form... which is very long and detailed I see that you can specify a retirement date in the future, so I guess that is my answer, though I think the help page should make that clear.

Ix.

From welfare.ie

A claim to State Pension Transition should be made five months before reaching age 65, or, if retiring between age 65 and 66, three months before date of retirement. If a person worked in an EU country or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement, a claim should be made six months before reaching age 65 or date of retirement.

A person can't receive State Pension Transition until he/she has retired from work, but it doesn't stop him/her applying in advance of the due date.

The wording on the webpage may be trying to distinguish between State Pension (transition) and State Pension (contributory) - formerly the Con. Old Age Pension - which a person can claim at age 66 even if still working.

You'll get more information on the Welfare Website

I am 65 next month and applied about 3 month ago. I have been told how much I will receive starting from my retirment date. This is contributory pension.