Illness Payments

Illness Payments are for people who are Incapable of work due to illness and Medically certified by a doctor. You are not being assessed as to whether or not you have an illness/disability.

You are being assessed as to the impact of that illness/disability on your capacity to work and ability to carry out normal daily activities.

Illness Payments are split into two categories:

· PRSI Based Payments

· Means Tested Payments

PRSI Based Payments include:

• Illness Benefit

• Invalidity Pension

• Partial Capacity Benefit

• Occupational Injuries Scheme

Means Tested Payments include:

• Disability Allowance

• Blind Persons Pension

Illness Benefit (IB)

Some points to consider:

• This is a short term insurance based illness payment

• You must have a minimum contribution of 104 contributions

• The first 3 days of illness are not paid

• This is a time limited payment (12 months (312 days) – must have between 104 and 259 contributions paid; 24 months (624days) – must have 260 or more contributions paid; those claiming since before 5th January 2009 have no limitations on time)

• You have to show that you are unable to work due to illness

• You must be under pensionable age ie 66years

• Your average income in the GCY must be above €300 to receive the full rate of IB

• The Personal Rate and Increase For Qualified Adult Rate for IB will depend on average weekly earnings on the GCY

Invalidity Pension (IP)

Some points to consider:

• It is paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness

• It is also based on a claimant's social insurance contributions (have a minimum of 260 paid contributions AND have 48 paid or credited contributions in the last complete tax year before the date of the claim)

• It is not means tested

• The Claimant must meet both the medical condition and the insurance contributions condition to qualify for payment of IP (Incapable for work means that it is unlikely the person will return to work for life OR the incapacity existed for 12 months prior to claim and will continue for a minimum of 12 months following the date of the claim for IP)

Disability Allowance (DA)

Some points to consider:

• This is a means tested payment paid to those who are incapable of work due injury, disease, physical or mental disability.

• You must be between 16years and 66years

• The condition must have existed for 12 months or is expected to exist for 12 months

• The Claimant must show that they are substantially restricted in taking up employment

• The Claimant must satisfy the means test

• The Claimant must satisfy the habitual residence rule

• There is an earnings disregard of €165 pw

• Earnings between €165 to €375 - 50% is not assessed

• Earnings over €375 are assessed in full

Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB)

Some points to consider:

• This is paid where a person returns to work or self employment and may continue to receive a SW payment.

• PCB is paid to those who were in receipt IB or IP prior to returning to work and have been medically assessed as having a reduction on their capacity to work.

• The payment continues while there continues to be an underlying entitlement to IB or IP

• Applies to recipients of Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension who want to work

• Does not apply to SOLAS/ETB courses or CE Schemes

• You should not start work until written approval is received. You must apply for Partial Capacity Benefit within 21 days of starting work.

• You can apply for Partial Capacity Benefit before you get a job. You must start work within 13 weeks of making your application.

• The work does not have to be rehabilitative in nature

• You retain payment or part payment while working

• There are no limits on earnings/hours

• To qualify you must be in receipt of Illness benefit for 6 months or more or In receipt of Invalidity Pension AND assessed by a medical assessor as having a reduced capacity for work

• You must be under the age of 66years

• You will be graded as having a Mild Reduction (there is no PCP Payment), Moderate Reduction (there is a 50% PCP Payment), Severe Reduction (there is a 75% PCP Payment) or Profound Reduction (there is a 100% PCP Payment),

• The Payment Rate will also differ if you are in Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension

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