Rehabilitative Employment

Gael23

If you are on DA you can keep a small amount of payment if your employment is of a rehabilitative nature, according to the DSP website.
My question is who decides if it is or isn't rehabilitative? And how do you inform them that you are Working?

WildRosie

I did a course of a rehabilitative nature when I was on illness benefit. I had to fill out a form that they sent me giving details of the course and a letter from the course provider saying I had been offered a place pending confirmation of exemption. The department decided if it qualified or not. But it was with the National Learning Network/Rehab so there wasn't really much doubt that it was of a rehabilitative nature. They wrote back to me and said I/the course qualified and gave me an exemption. This meant I kept my €188/wk plus got the FAS training allowance which was the same again I think. It was supposed to be reviewed on regular basis. I then moved on to Invalidity Pension and got a letter from them about a year after I moved asking if I was still doing the course and if I still needed the exemption which I didn't. It was all pretty straight forward as I remember but took maybe two months for the department to confirm the exemption so I couldn't start till that came through. It might be quicker with DA as it's probably a more common request than with IB.

Gael23

Im aware that I will lose some money but I think I can keep a small amount. Im more referring to ordinary work that my disability doesn't stop me from doing.

mp22

Have a read here. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/partial_capacity_benefit.html

WildRosie

Well if it's rehabilitative in nature, then you need to apply for an exemption. If it's non rehabilitative, then it's just work. This page explains it clearly. There's also partial capacity benefit which has no requirement for the work to be rehabilitative and allows you to keep some of your payment, but DA recipients don't qualify.

Gael23

WildRosie wrote: »

Well if it's rehabilitative in nature, then you need to apply for an exemption. If it's non rehabilitative, then it's just work. This page explains it clearly. There's also partial capacity benefit which has no requirement for the work to be rehabilitative and allows you to keep some of your payment, but DA recipients don't qualify.

That page has what I wanted to know. I can earn €422.50 and keep the minimum level of weekly payment. I assume thats gross income but it doesn't say.
I don't mind losing my DA but it would be a problem for me to lose my travel pass and medical card in the short term.

WildRosie

I lost my medical card when I was on the training course because the training allowance put me above the threshold for even a GP visit card and had to fight with the help of a TD to get it back when I left (but that was around the time they centralised medical card processing and it was a nightmare for everyone). Just something to bear in mind. This page also has useful information for the procedures when taking up rehabilitative employment and when employment is not regarded as rehabilitative .

Gael23

If I'm doing good then its grand but if I'm not doing so well then without my medical card I wouldn't be able to see my GP as often as would be needed. I had what I hope is my worst ever setback earlier this year and I think I was in there 7 times in 3 months, so if that was €50 every time I just couldn't do it.
I know people may say you should be able to pay yourself but my medical problems won't go away just because I have an income.

WildRosie

I totally understand where you're coming from. I go through periods where I have to see my GP weekly, thankfully not that often but it could mean having to see him 4 times in a month if I'm on weekly scripts and then every 2 weeks for another month. I couldn't afford that plus €144 a month on meds plus regular blood tests. I'm on BTEA now and my medical card thankfully doesn't expire till the end of 2017 so don't need to worry about that for the time being.

mrsbyrne

PCB doesn't apply to DA at all. If you are on DA and you want to work you simply write to Longford telling them where snd when you will be working
. You enclose a letter from your GP stating that he/she agrees that this work is.of a rehabilitative nature. If DA accept this (they rarely object) they will write back requesting a payslip so you can be meanstested.
You csn earn €120 pet week and keep all your DA. Anything in excess of that is halved snd considered means. So for example if you earn €200, €40 will he deducted from your DA.

boardsuser1

I returned to work this year,lost the lot(medical card,rent allowance etc)but stayed working anyway as i love the job I'm in

Gael23

Ive looked into it a bit and it appears that you can keep either a full medical card or GP visit card for 3 years after you come off DA. Not sure which it is.