Exploring state pension provision policy for the farming community.

This paper explores Irish Government Pensions Reform proposals, from the perspective of the self-employed community and specifically the farming community. It investigates whether the proposed changes to the State Pension System set out in the Governments "Roadmap for Pensions reform 2018–2023" will, in the context of farmers and the stated objectives of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, keep pensioners above the poverty line and help ensure the survival of rural Ireland or whether, the family interdependencies which currently exist and the vulnerabilities that arise as a consequence, will remain largely unaddressed. This paper illustrates the stark reality that under the current State Pension System, low-income farmers can fail to qualify either for the State Pension (Contributory) or the State Pension (Non-Contributory) leaving them faced with working long into their retirement years or financially dependent on family members in their old age, and that proposed changes to the State Welfare System do not alleviate this predicament. This has subsequent consequences for the sustainability of generational renewal in the agricultural industry and consequently could have far reaching societal impacts. Conscious of the view that farmers should "pay their way" as far as state pensions are concerned, we recommend a model for achieving undisputed entitlement for all farmers to the Contributory State Pension, going forward. • There are huge concerns about the sustainability of an aging farming population in Ireland and in many OECD countries. • Under Irish pension policy low income farmers may not qualify for the State Pension leaving them financially vulnerable. • Pension policy is important for the sustainability of generational renewal in agriculture with significant societal impact. • Irish pension policy reform fails to alleviate an asymmetry between succession planning, retirement income and generational renewal. • We recommend a model for achieving undisputed entitlement for all farmers to the Contributory State Pension, going forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]