Wife sick, Illness benefift to be stopped, OP to be made redundant (very shortly) and

misterm

Hi all,
My wife is on illness benefit for about 8 years now, she was working in a factory job back then and became ill, doctors are calling it post viral, or Chronic Fatigue syndrome. She was called for medical assessment about two years ago, and had to appeal, and was finally back on the illness benefit after about 8 months or so.
She has now been called to another assessment, and recieved the letter stating she was fit for other type of work.
I'm employed by a company, but currently out sick for the last 11months, I'm on illness benefit and honestly don't see myself as being able to get back to work (arthritis). I'll be made redundant any time now as the company is closing, I won't be getting much as I was only there 2 years.

My wife just pointed out that if she looses her appeal, we'll be in major financial trouble. I will most likely be out sick for a few years.

What would be the best way to go forward with our situtation?
Will my wife have stamps, can she get Jobseekers benefit?
Should I stay on the illness benefit or do I have to go about the redundancy when I get my RP40 form.

Should we split the social welfare payments or who should be the main claimant?

Any help (to point us in the right direction) would be great

thanks
misterm

misterm

anyone interested in attempting to help?

dresden8

Your situation is a touch more complicated than the norm so it may have thrown a few people.

If she only has credits anything she claims would only be at the lowest rate.

However, from what you said, you should be able to claim some form of illness/disability payment or unemployment.

If you get full rate on any scheme you may claim her as an an adult dependant, or she may get more claiming by herself.

You should contact your local office or citizens information centre to check your individual situation.

You should remember to go to your local community welfare officer who may be able to help with rent or mortgage. Claim everything you might have a chance to get.

Your specific situation doesn't lend itself to generalisations but the help is there.

very miffed dub

A few points:

1. Should I stay on the illness benefit or do I have to go about the redundancy when I get my RP40 form.
You can stay on Illness Benefit if you are made redundant, as long as you remain unfit for work.

2. If your illnesses are long-term, you should both apply for Invalidity Pension.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW44/Pages/1WhatisInvalidityPension.aspx
Another option is Disability Allowance http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW29/Pages/1WhatisDisabilityAllowance.aspx

3. Your wife should appeal (if she hasn't already done so) and she will be called to a second medical exam by a different DSFA doctor. If this DSFA doctor finds that she is not capable of work, she remains on Illness Benefit and the appeal is closed. However, if the decision remains the same her appeal will go ahead. She should request her file as it contains the DSFA doctor's reports which her own doctor(s) can refute. She should also ask for an oral hearing to put her case across in person. She can still get paid by signing on for Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit while her appeal is in progress. She will not have to satisfy the genuinely seeking and available for full-time work condition that applies to these payments.

4. Will my wife have stamps, can she get Jobseekers benefit?
As your wife has been on Illness Benefit for 8 years she would have credited contributions for those years but she wouldn't be entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit as she wouldn't have the necessary paid PRSI contributions in the relevant tax year.

5. Should we split the social welfare payments or who should be the main claimant?
Don't be worrying about this now. But if the worst happens (that is, your wife loses her appeal), you can claim for her as a Qualified Adult (QA) on your payment. This QA payment depends on what payment you are on.
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/sw19/Pages/sw19_sect5.aspx

Hope this helps.

kangaroo

misterm wrote: »

Hi all,
My wife is on illness benefit for about 8 years now, she was working in a factory job back then and became ill, doctors are calling it post viral, or Chronic Fatigue syndrome. She was called for medical assessment about two years ago, and had to appeal, and was finally back on the illness benefit after about 8 months or so.
She has now been called to another assessment, and recieved the letter stating she was fit for other type of work.
I'm employed by a company, but currently out sick for the last 11months, I'm on illness benefit and honestly don't see myself as being able to get back to work (arthritis). I'll be made redundant any time now as the company is closing, I won't be getting much as I was only there 2 years.

My wife just pointed out that if she looses her appeal, we'll be in major financial trouble. I will most likely be out sick for a few years.

What would be the best way to go forward with our situtation?
Will my wife have stamps, can she get Jobseekers benefit?
Should I stay on the illness benefit or do I have to go about the redundancy when I get my RP40 form.

Should we split the social welfare payments or who should be the main claimant?

Any help (to point us in the right direction) would be great

thanks
misterm

I'm not sure if you ever sorted this out or not.
A lot of people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) also known as Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.) have had difficulities applying for benefits. The problem of course is that (i) the basic tests done are likely to have been normal (ii) there is nothing visibly wrong.

However lots of people with ME/CFS/PVFS do get disability benefits in the end. And not from scamming the system but from building a case (studies have shown high illness intrusiveness with ME/CFS and low quality of lie i.e. it's very disabling). I'm not sure if it's too late but other people she/you know with the illness might be able to give tips. Or contact one of the ME/CFS groups (I do voluntary work for one - the Irish ME/CFS Association)

c4cat

misterm wrote: »

Hi all,
My wife is on illness benefit for about 8 years now, she was working in a factory job back then and became ill, doctors are calling it post viral, or Chronic Fatigue syndrome. She was called for medical assessment about two years ago, and had to appeal, and was finally back on the illness benefit after about 8 months or so.
She has now been called to another assessment, and recieved the letter stating she was fit for other type of work.
I'm employed by a company, but currently out sick for the last 11months, I'm on illness benefit and honestly don't see myself as being able to get back to work (arthritis). I'll be made redundant any time now as the company is closing, I won't be getting much as I was only there 2 years.

My wife just pointed out that if she looses her appeal, we'll be in major financial trouble. I will most likely be out sick for a few years.

What would be the best way to go forward with our situtation?
Will my wife have stamps, can she get Jobseekers benefit?
Should I stay on the illness benefit or do I have to go about the redundancy when I get my RP40 form.

Should we split the social welfare payments or who should be the main claimant?

Any help (to point us in the right direction) would be great

thanks
misterm

You need to go and get qualified advice from a citizens advice centre rather then from here