Deferring your State Pension (Contributory)

The State Pension (Contributory) is paid to people from the age of 66 who have enough (PRSI) contributions. From January 2024, you can choose to start claiming your State Pension (Contributory) anytime between the ages of 66 and 70.

Choosing a later start date is called deferring your pension. You can defer your start date up until you turn 70.

Why would I defer (delay) the start date for my State Pension (Contributory)?

During deferral, you can continue to work and make PRSI contributions to increase your personal rate of payment or meet the qualifying condition of 520 (10 years) contributions for State Pension (Contributory).

This means that deferring your State Pension (Contributory) can help you to:

• Qualify for State Pension (Contributory) if you didn't qualify at age 66
• Get a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory) than what you would have got at age 66

To defer your pension, you must be 66 or over on or after 1 January 2024. You can decide to start getting your State Pension (Contributory) anytime between the ages of 66 and 70.

Once you start claiming your State Pension (Contributory), you can no longer choose to defer your pension claim, even if you keep working. This is because you don’t pay PRSI once you start getting your pension.

If you choose to start claiming your pension between age 67 and 70, you may be entitled to a higher rate of State Pension (Contributory).

Your pension rate depends on the age you are when you start getting your pension. If you don’t qualify for the maximum rate, you may get a reduced rate.

The table below includes maximum rates based on January 2024 rates of State Pension (Contributory).

There will be proportionate rates for qualified adults and children. This page will be updated as more detail becomes available.

How many PRSI contributions can I make during deferral?

During deferral, you can continue to make PRSI contributions to increase your personal rate of payment or meet the qualifying condition of 520 (10 years) contributions for State Pension (Contributory).

However, you will not be able to increase your contributions past the current maximum of 2080 (40 years). It is important to know how many contributions you have before you are going to drawdown your pension.

How to estimate rate of my State Pension (Contributory)

To estimate your State Pension (Contributory) rate, you can ask for a copy of your Contribution Statement on MyWelfare.ie. This statement includes all your PRSI contributions, including paid PRSI contributions and Long-Term Carers Contributions.

You need a verified MyGovID account to use this service. You can find information on how to estimate your State Pension (Contributory) rates on gov.ie

You should apply for the State Pension (Contributory) no more than 6 months before your claim start date. If you apply late, your pension start date can be backdated 6 months only.

The Department of Social Protection will publish a new application form for State Pension (Contributory) soon. It will ask for the date you want to start getting your pension. This can be at age 66, like it is now, or any date between 66 and 70.

If you use the current SPC1 application form and you turn 66 in 2024, the Department will write to you asking what date you want to start claiming your State Pension (Contributory).