Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 January 2026
428. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if supports will be given to a person who narrowly missed out on the main PRSI changes in January 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5209/26]
View answerFrom 1 January 2024, the State Pension (Contributory) has become more flexible. A person can now defer drawing down their entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory) at any time between ages 66 and 70. This gives a person the opportunity to continue to work and pay PRSI up to the age of 70, which may improve their contribution record to be eligible for a higher rate of payment when they do decide to draw down their State Pension (Contributory). It may also help give others sufficient time to build up their contribution record to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
It was in this context that the upper age limit for employed and self-employed persons to be exempt from PRSI was changed from 66 years to 70 years, with effect from 1 January 2024. This change applies to all persons who are employees or self-employed with the exception of the following main categories:
• people who have already been awarded the State Pension (Contributory),
• people who had already reached 66 years of age by 1 January 2024 (born before 1 January 1958)
Those paying PRSI past 66 years of age will also continue to have access to certain working age schemes, for example, Jobseeker's Benefit and Illness Benefit. Further information relating to supports available to persons continuing to work and pay PRSI past 66 years of age can be found on the individual schemes' web-pages on gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
