Illness benefit

maxamillion3

Hey guys,

I was diagnosed wtih depression over a year ago and was prescribed drugs etc all of which didn't work.

Last week, work got far too much for me and I asked for a three week leave of absence.

I'm not sure if I'll be able to go back, because I'm getting other mental symptoms too.

Question - am I entitled to illness or disability benefit?

The only reason I ask is I'm not going to have money to pay the medical bills if I don't.

I hear you have to ask the doctor about the illness benefit?

Thanks for yuor help,

M

Nolanger

For IB you need contributions so it depends on how much work you did in 2008. You get a certificate signed every week or month from your own doctor. But this is only for short-term health problems. If your depression has been going on for over a year then you should apply for Disability Allowance which involves a means test and assessment by the scheme's doctor.

Olduvai

There are two criteria for eligibility for Illness Benefit. The first is medical and you must be unable to work due to an illness. You need to visit your own doctor (generally a GP or Consultant) who will certify you as being unfit for work and they can only fill out the relevant form.

I would advise you to link into services if you haven’t already done so. That can be with your own GP or a consultant. You could discuss the difficulties you are facing medically, and you can explore the best course of action in relation to continued employment.

You must also meet the social insurance criteria for IB. That is

• At least 104 weeks PRSI paid since you first started work

And

• Have 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the relevant tax year (a minimum of 13 weeks must be paid contributions*)

Or

• Have 26 weeks PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks PRSI paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.

*If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, the following years can be used to meet this condition:

• The 2 tax years before the relevant tax year
• The last complete tax year,

or

• The current tax year.

The Relevant Tax Year for claims made in 2010 is the tax year of 2008. If you meet the social insurance criteria you can claim illness benefit regardless of whether your depression has been there over a year or ten years for that matter. If the IB claim is ongoing your claim will regularly undergo a desk review and you may in the future be called to attend for a medical examination before one of the Departments doctors.

If you don’t qualify for IB you may qualify for Disability Allowance. To qualify you must;

~Have an injury, disease or physical or mental disability that has continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year and;

~As a result of this disability be substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications.

Your GP or consultant will have to fill in the relevant medical section on the form relating to your condition. Depending on the information the Dept asks and what info your own doctor/s provide, you may however be called before the Departments doctors for a medical assessment. As Disability Allowance is a means tested scheme you must also satisfy the means test. You will be assessed on income, savings, investments etc.

While your DA claim is being processed you may be eligible for Supplementary Welfare Allowance in the meantime. This is a means tested payment. Applications for SWA are made to your local community welfare officer who is generally located in a HSE clinic.