cut off for medical card

firestarter51

my father in law is 67 he was refused a med card on income grounds, what is the cut off point for a single man living on his own, and if he failed this means test would he also be refused for fuel allowance ??
thanks in advance for any help

WIZE

Is he still working or Retired. Does he receive a large pension?

firestarter51

retired, state pension and work pension is around 260 after tax, he has bad arthritis and other illnesses so he is visiting the doctor a lot, he is on around 50 euro of drugs a week

Cushie Butterfield

firestarter51 wrote: »

retired, state pension and work pension is around 260 after tax, he has bad arthritis and other illnesses so he is visiting the doctor a lot, he is on around 50 euro of drugs a week

For Fuel Allownace: An applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €100.00 a week above the appropriate maximum State Pension (Contributory) rate. The following assessable income limits therefore apply:

- €330.30 for a single person under 80 years (€100 plus €230.30)

http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/820_National-Fuel-Scheme.aspx


If his sole income comprised of a social welfare payment, broadly speaking he would be entitled to a Medical Card. He should apply again as soon as he reaches 70 as the income guidelines are more generous.

For a single person aged 66 - 69 living alone the cut-off is €201.50 (Gross, less tax, USC & PRSI) for a Medical Card & €302.00 for a GP Visit Card. For a single person aged over 70 it's €600 or less for a Medical Card & over €600 not exceeding €700 for a GP Visit Card. All capital (savings and investments) are assessed as means for under 70's:
First €36,000 (single), €72,000 (couple): Nil
Next €10,000: €1 per €1,000
Next €10,000: €2 per €1,000
Balance (e.g. capital in excess of €36,000/€72,000): €4 per €1,000

http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/mc/forms/assessmentguidelines.pdf

Reasonable expenses in respect of rent or mortgage payments are allowed for, as well as unusually high medical expenses, although there are no specific guidelines laid out for what reasonable or unusually high actually mean in monetary terms.

Some cancer patients have appealed on the grounds of undue hardship & received Medical Cards due to the nature of their illness with the help of supporting documentation from oncology nurses, consulatants, GPs & social workers. A cancer diagnosis doesn't in itself entitle you to a Medical Card though.

If someone doesn't have a Medical or GP Visit Card they can use the Drugs Payment Scheme. Under this Scheme, individuals or families pay a maximum of €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines, so he should apply for one if he hasn't already got one. The registration form is available from pharmacies or from your Local Health Office. You can also download the DPS application form (pdf) here http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/Forms/Drugs_Payment_Scheme/Drugs_Payment_Scheme_Application_Form.pdf. .

firestarter51

Thank you for the advice it is great to have a definite answer, he was listening to joe Duffy yesterday and somehow heard the cut off was 35 k, I thought this was a bit hog he must have miss heard. Thanks for the advice very helpful

firestarter51

Quick question before I visit him with the news the cut off is 201 for 66-69 isn't that less than the state pension ?

danjo-xx

yeah the SP is €230

firestarter51

Thats a bit harsh, I was under the impression all pensioners got the card of they were just living on state pension, not looking forward to telling him thanks for the help

Cushie Butterfield

firestarter51 wrote: »

Thats a bit harsh, I was under the impression all pensioners got the card of they were just living on state pension, not looking forward to telling him thanks for the help

The guidelines showing the €201.50 income cut-off haven't been updated since about 2006, but the provision is made that anyone whose sole source of income is a social welfare payment is entitled to a medical card once their savings & investments are below the threshold.

danjo-xx

The info cushie butterfied posted above can be found here under Means Test

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/medical_card.html

According to the HSE's guidelines, if your income is derived solely from social welfare allowances or benefits or HSE allowances you should be granted a medical card even though your payment may be in excess of the income guidelines for your age and situation.

GOODME

firestarter51 wrote: »

Thats a bit harsh, I was under the impression all pensioners got the card of they were just living on state pension, not looking forward to telling him thanks for the help

If you think the decision isn't fair then appeal or try with new app.

What many people forget to do is to add suporting proof of their expenses, tell him to keep and send receipts with probably new application
So he will also enclose his GP & pharmacy receipts, car reg or bus tickets any other thing he thinks will help. List them on the form send copies of 2 months expenses starting with the most recent, so they know it is true.

Goodluck