A number of political parties have voiced their support for a SIPTU campaign calling for plans to increase the pension age to be abandoned.
Many people are contractually obliged to retire at 65, but the state pension is not available until a person turns 66.
The issue has become a major talking point over the last week of general election campaigning.
Fianna Fáil is vowing to postpone the increase, while Fine Gael says it will introduce a transition payment for those caught between retirement and state pension age.
Meanwhile, SIPTU is calling on the incoming government to abandon plans to further increase the pension age to 67 next year - as well as proposals for it to increase to 68 in 2028.
At an event in Dublin today, the union outlined its 'Stop67' campaign, which is being backed by parties including Sinn Féin, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit - Solidarity.
Sinn Féin's John Brady and Social Democrats co-leader Roisín Shortall were among those in attendance.
Sinn Féin fully support @SIPTU's #Stop67 campaign in relation to Pension Age increases.
We are committed to bringing the pension age back to 65.
No one due to retire should be forced onto a job seekers payment. We have legislation ready to go to give older citizens a break. pic.twitter.com/AMQnn9vQZj— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) January 23, 2020
The heads of organisations such as Age Action and the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) also attended today's event.
Speaking in Dublin today, Susan Redmond explained that she was forced to go on jobseekers benefit after retiring at 65 - describing the experience as "very, very stressful".
She explained: "[I had to] do out a CV, just to get my claim processed.
"After a year, I was 66 then so I was entitled to claim the pension then.
"[It was] very, very stressful - you didn't know if you were coming or going. You were getting sent to job fairs."
65-year-old Christy Waters, meanwhile, has been unable to retire because he can't afford to live on jobseekers allowance.
He observed: "I would have loved to retire now - spend more time with my family and my grandchildren.
"But I can't do that - I couldn't possibly be able to live on the €203 that they give me on jobseekers allowance. It's very stressful, and people shouldn't be put through this."
