Self Employed
If you are self-employed, you can take your benefits from age 60. You do not have to retire to take your pension benefits. Some occupations such as air-pilots, fishermen, jockeys and professional rugby players allow you to retire earlier.
Employee
If you are an employee and you are not a member of an occupational pension scheme, you can take your benefits at any time after your 50th birthday. If you start to take your benefits between age 50 and 60, you must retire from your job. However, if you only start taking your benefits from age 60, you can continue to work and take your benefits at the same time.
Pension Scheme Member
If you are a member of an occupational pension scheme your scheme will have set a normal retirement age between 60 and 70. You can take your benefits at your normal retirement age and you don’t have to retire from your job. If you take benefits between age 50 and your normal retirement age you will have to retire from your job.
Ill Health
If you have to retire early because of ill health, and you apply for and get revenue approval, you can take your pension benefits earlier than age 50.