The Department of Social Protection has introduced a number of administrative provisions designed to ease the transition from the labour force into retirement. These provisions may be of interest to employees who are due to retire in the near future.  From the 1^st January 2014, an individual claiming Jobseeker's Benefit or Allowance who is aged 62 or over, will no longer be required to engage with the activation process and will not be subject to penalty rates for non-engagement.  The individual can also avail of a range of supports (for example, training or employment support programmes) from DSP.

In addition, most jobseekers aged 62 or over will be placed on a yearly signing arrangement with their local social welfare office (this means that they do not need to sign on regularly) and most will be transferred to Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) payments so payment can be made directly into their bank account. Certain categories of older jobseekers may be required to engage more frequently with their local social welfare office. For example, casual jobseekers of 62 and older must continue to submit weekly dockets of their work patterns.

For further information please log on to www.welfare.ie.