Dole + Disability

crustyduchess

Hi, I have been told I can qualify for disability allowance, I am just wondering if you can get the dole PLUS disability allowance, or do you have to get one or the other? Also, I have finished studying, yet have had an extension for my thesis, as I have been too ill to do it, so although my course is finished, do I still count as a student and therefore am I unable to get state benefit? Also, how much would I get, living with my parents, compared to what I would get, living out of home?any help would be much appreciated, thanks!

Nolanger

It's one or the other as you cannot be available for work while ill (and vice versa).

Better to get a letter from college stating that you have finished the course.

How much you get depends on if your parents are working and how much they earn. You
would need to submit their recent payslips.

crustyduchess

Ok, thanks for your help Nolanger.

It just occurred to me, as I typed, what your name meant..

Mrs. MacGyver

Nolanger is correct, you cannot claim both payments at once. Hope you get back on your feet soon and best of luck with completing your thesis

Demonique

No, you can just one or the other, but on disability you could also be entitled to:

*Rent Allowance
*Medical Card
*Household benefits package - electricity/gas, phone rental and €2.00 worth of calls per month and free colour tv licence

Disability Allowance is means tested by unlike Unemployment Benefit your parents income is not taken into account if you live at home

AnnaStezia

Does UB not have a time limit after which it then becomes a different and means tested benefit ? I cannot remember the name of the other benefit, it was something like unemployment assistance ?

If so, would OP not be better on disability benefit on the basis that is as open ended as the duration of his disability ?

If OP then recovers and comes off disability can he he not then proceed to claim UB ?

Mrs. MacGyver

The UB or Jobseeker's Benefit lasts for either 312 or 390 days depending on whether you have over or under 260 cons paid.

The disability benefit would be better but the OP might not have enough cons to qualify and maby thats why s/he is looking at the means tested option.

Filan

can one have a disability allowance and also participate on a Community Employment scheme? Claiming both allowances?. Disability allowance recipients are entitled to work for up to 20 hoursof approved rehabilitative work.

Mrs. MacGyver

see the following:

'Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance can work while in receipt of the allowance but income is assessable as means. From 7 June 2006 the first €120.00 of weekly earnings and 50% of earnings between €120 and €350 from employment or self-employment of a rehabilitative nature are disregarded in any mean stest. However, any earnings in excess of this amount must be assessed as income and entitlement to Disability Allowance reduced accordingly.

The application for the employment to be considered rehabilitative must be made to the department and should be sent in as soon as the employment commences. In the case of Community Employment Schemes, approval is normally given on foot of certification of placement by FAS. In the case of other employment or self-employment a letter is required from the person's own medical doctor certifying the rehabilitative nature of the employment plus a letter from the employer describing the nature of the proposed employment, the number of hours being worked and the level of remuneration for the work. Where an application for employment to be considered rehabilitative is received, it may be forwarded to one of the Departments Medical Advisors for his decision on the rehabilitative aspects of the proposed employment. '

Filan

Thanks. I have a disability medical next week on grounds of long running anxiety ,panic attacks....and photosensitivity....quite a lot of factors mean full time work is either difficult to obtain or fulfil or both.

Mrs. MacGyver

Hope it goes well for you Filan.

Filan

Thanks...I do hope to work....but has always been difficult to find an employer to accomodate my needs...they want someone without my baggage...so it isn't just about capability to work..it's also about finding an employer to give me work under such circumstances