Illness Benefit Q

BanzaiBk

Am I correct in thinking that you must actually apply for Illness Benefit rather than be offered it?

I know this is a very stupid question but it seems that I am being offered this payment (via post to my home adress) by the Dept. of Social and Family Affairs. I had encephalitis in Sept. 06 and suffered very negligible brain damage, but I am medically brain damaged and must declare this for health insurance, car insurance etc etc. I am aware that I can receive some benefit if I stop working all together. I have never applied for this benefit. At the time of my illness I was a student and now I am a professional with a secure job. I am a member of the Long Term Illness Scheme (Cushing's Disease) however, perhaps this is linked in some way?

Is it reasonable for me to be concerned that I am receiving correspondence encouraging me to quit my job and collect this benefit?

Victor

BanzaiBk wrote: »

Am I correct in thinking that you must actually apply for Illness Benefit rather than be offered it?

Normally yes.

Is it reasonable for me to be concerned that I am receiving correspondence encouraging me to quit my job and collect this benefit?

DSFA have moved tolooking at people as customers and part of the job is to inform people of thigns that they may be entitled to.

BanzaiBk

Victor wrote: »

Normally yes.

DSFA have moved tolooking at people as customers and part of the job is to inform people of thigns that they may be entitled to.

Thanks for the reply Victor. I did not realise that this is the case. I am a little concerned that they have access to my health records without me first inquiring though. It just seems really strange, almost like someone is trying to scam me. /internet paranoia

Victor

BanzaiBk wrote: »

Thanks for the reply Victor. I did not realise that this is the case. I am a little concerned that they have access to my health records without me first inquiring though. It just seems really strange, almost like someone is trying to scam me. /internet paranoia

I presume it is because of the Long Term Illness Scheme - is this run by the HSE?

If you are concerned, talk to them. Is it possible a parent or someone else applied on your behalf

BanzaiBk

I finally managed to talk to someone in the DoFSA regarding this issue this morning. The person in question did not seem willing to tell me why I had been contacted and said that they had nothing to do with the LTI scheme, as this was run by the HSE. He kept repeating that if I cut my hours down to 10 a week I could get half of the benefit though:rolleyes:!

I've made an appt. to see the officer in the Social Welfare office for Friday.

yabadabado

to get illness benefit you would have to get a medical cert from your doctor to start the claim then send certs off every week to DSFA.are you sure its Illness benefit coz you cant get it and work (unless u get an exception from DSFA and u have to apply for that aswel and ur doctor would need to fill out the exception form).

BanzaiBk

It says Illness Benefit on all of the letters (7 in total, this has been going on weeks), I thought at first they confused Illness with Disability. I've never looked for any forms from my GP or anything for this:(