Returning from U.S

Howzit17

I plan to return from the states after having been away for 13 years.
I have a PPS number and got the Mrs 1 also, as we bought a house over there.
What's the best way for us to get a medical card? Does she need to become a citizen? Or her having a PPS number is enough? How will the means test work for us? Do we have to sign the dole to get it?

Conall Cernach

Howzit17 wrote: »

I plan to return from the states after having been away for 13 years.
I have a PPS number and got the Mrs 1 also, as we bought a house over there.
What's the best way for us to get a medical card? Does she need to become a citizen? Or her having a PPS number is enough? How will the means test work for us? Do we have to sign the dole to get it?

The means test to qualify for a medical card is pretty stingy. A married couple can't have an income in excess of €266.50 per week although there are allowances made for number of children, reasonable mortgage repayments, house insurance, travel to work expenses etc. You don't have to be on social welfare to qualify but the cut off is so low that anyone with even a modest paying job will have difficulty qualifying. If either of you have a medical condition make sure you point that out on the form and list all of your medications.

You also have to have a named doctor who will accept you as a patient. This can be hard enough itself.

J.pilkington

You mention owning a house, if you hold onto it and rent then this income is counted as income in calculation, if you sell and hold the cash then they will apply a notional interest to anything above €72k (couple) and add to your income - crazy rate of up to 20%, so for €200k cash they will treat as having €20k income

Howzit17

We plan to live in the house, not sell or rent it and no mortgage.We will be returning to states for a few months a year to earn money but eventually return full time to Ireland, and plan on being self employed in Ireland.So are we best to keep most of our money earned  in the states, in the states? And will the medical card be taking off us if and when we become self employed in Ireland?
Cheers

What makes you eligible for any benefits here?
Won't you be looking for work here?

Howzit17

What will the means test be based on in our case? We will technically be unemployed until we get our business up and running in Ireland

Howzit17

"What makes you eligible for any benefits here?"
Thats what am trying to figure out, how do I get back in the system.I will be paying tax and bills on my house, I'm an irish citizen with PPS number.What else will I need?

Dardania

Augeo wrote: »

What makes you eligible for any benefits here?
Won't you be looking for work here?

Howzit17 wrote: »

What will the means test be based on in our case? We will technically be unemployed until we get our business up and running in Ireland

Have to echo Augeo's query - what makes you believe you will be eligible for social insurance? You have to have had paid into the system lately to qualify... Ireland doesn't have universal income yet. Is there any treaty between US & Ireland on the social insurance issue - as far I know there is, intra-EU...

Maybe you need to check in to something akin to a small business loan or enterprise assistance? If you're going to employ people other than yourselves, I'm sure enterprise ireland would be receptive to assisting you get going...

DamoKen

Howzit17 wrote: »

We plan to live in the house, not sell or rent it and no mortgage.We will be returning to states for a few months a year to earn money but eventually return full time to Ireland, and plan on being self employed in Ireland.So are we best to keep most of our money earned  in the states, in the states? And will the medical card be taking off us if and when we become self employed in Ireland?
Cheers

Nice, 13 years living in another country and first thing you want coming home is benefits keeping all assets stateside until you come back for good.

Not normally judgemental but seriously, can you see nothing wrong with what you're thinking of doing? You do realise the health service is a mess here don't you?

Do what the rest of us who are above means testing have done the 13 years you were away, contribute and pay your own way. If you have a house and savings you're in a far better position to do that than many living here who still don't qualify.

Dardania

Howzit17 wrote: »

"What makes you eligible for any benefits here?"
Thats what am trying to figure out, how do I get back in the system.I will be paying tax and bills on my house, I'm an irish citizen with PPS number.What else will I need?

This website has some information on it: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment_1.html
also see this one: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/means_test_for_jobseekers_allowance.html

Dardania

Howzit17 wrote: »

"What makes you eligible for any benefits here?"
Thats what am trying to figure out, how do I get back in the system.I will be paying tax and bills on my house, I'm an irish citizen with PPS number.What else will I need?

This website has some information on it: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment/claiming_a_social_welfare_payment_1.html
also see this one: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/social_assistance_payments/residency_requirements_for_social_assistance_in_ireland.html
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/irish_social_welfare_system/means_test_for_social_welfare_payments/means_test_for_jobseekers_allowance.html

Stheno

Howzit17 wrote: »

We plan to live in the house, not sell or rent it and no mortgage.We will be returning to states for a few months a year to earn money but eventually return full time to Ireland, and plan on being self employed in Ireland.So are we best to keep most of our money earned  in the states, in the states? And will the medical card be taking off us if and when we become self employed in Ireland?
Cheers

For benefits youll have to pass habitual residency rules which you may struggle with

If you are living in ireland most of the year all income is taxable in ireland regardless of where it is earned

You might want to seek professional advice

Howzit17

Howzit17 wrote: »

.......................I will be paying tax and bills on my house, I'm an irish citizen with PPS number.What else will I need?

You haven't paid PRSI here in at least 13 years. You haven't worked in the EU in those 13 years either. You allude to owning a house here that is mortgage free.

As I see it, you are entitled to no medical card and no means tested assistance from the Dept of Social Welfare

As you will be working in the US a few months a year you are essentially planning on holidaying longterm in Ireland for much of the year. You seem to think you qualify for social welfare though, you don't and shouldn't.

Howzit17

Howzit17 wrote: »

What will the means test be based on in our case? We will technically be unemployed until we get our business up and running in Ireland

Technically you'll be working in the US a few months a year and holidaying in Ireland / working on your start-up.

Dardania

After re-reading the thread, I suspect we (and most definately me) have been a little harsh on OP. It appears all they really want to know about is how to access health care while here. Not necessarily take the dole.
Apologies OP.

This is a pertinent link: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health_system/entitlement_to_public_health_services.html - and most likely OP will fail to meet that criteria.
In which case, they will need to get private health care, see this link: http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/health_system/private_health_insurance.html

Dardania

Dardania wrote: »

After re-reading the thread, I suspect we (and most definately me) have been a little harsh on OP. It appears all they really want to know about is how to access health care while here. Not necessarily take the dole................

GP and VHI so
SORTED

Howzit17

Mrs and I have no intention to go on the dole, which is why we want to startup a business and figure out how to get back in the system.
I've been on citizen information but in my case, being gone so long, its a little different.was hoping someone had similar experience.
And getting benefits was not the 1st thing I've tried to get sorted, and i asked not stated that, was it best that i keep my U.S earned money out of Ireland if it would help.
And yes I will continue to work in the U.S until I've moved back to Ireland, of course.
Looks like "enterprise assistance" and "professional help" is the answer.
Cheers

Graham

Howzit17 wrote: »

i asked not stated that, was it best that i keep my U.S earned money out of Ireland if it would help.
And yes I will continue to work in the U.S until I've moved back to Ireland, of course.
Looks like "enterprise assistance" and "professional help" is the answer.

You'll more than likely have to pay tax wherever you're resident, not wherever you keep your money. Plan carefully OP and take professional advice, you could well find yourself with liabilities in multiple countries.

Dardania

For your missus, be careful about her being double taxed on Irish income when ye get started - from speaking to old (US) colleagues working in Ireland, it can be tricky to sort that out

njs030

Howzit17 wrote: »

Mrs and I have no intention to go on the dole, which is why we want to startup a business and figure out how to get back in the system.
I've been on citizen information but in my case, being gone so long, its a little different.was hoping someone had similar experience.
And getting benefits was not the 1st thing I've tried to get sorted, and i asked not stated that, was it best that i keep my U.S earned money out of Ireland if it would help.
And yes I will continue to work in the U.S until I've moved back to Ireland, of course.
Looks like "enterprise assistance" and "professional help" is the answer.
Cheers

Perhaps the confusion was you asking how to get your wife a medical card which is free medical care and generally for people who are on low incomes or aren't working.

Private health care is probably a better way to go as you won't be able to prove habitual residence when you're not intending on closing down bank accounts etc in your previous country.

AryaStark

Howzit17 wrote: »

We plan to live in the house, not sell or rent it and no mortgage.We will be returning to states for a few months a year to earn money but eventually return full time to Ireland, and plan on being self employed in Ireland.So are we best to keep most of our money earned  in the states, in the states? And will the medical card be taking off us if and when we become self employed in Ireland?
Cheers

Why do you think you will qualify for a medical card if you are not contributing or looking for work in Ireland. If you are leaving money in an account in the states you are being deceitful and it is not really fair that you qualify for a medical card.

Balagan

Howzit17 wrote: »

I plan to return from the states after having been away for 13 years.
I have a PPS number and got the Mrs 1 also, as we bought a house over there.
What's the best way for us to get a medical card? Does she need to become a citizen? Or her having a PPS number is enough? How will the means test work for us? Do we have to sign the dole to get it?

Sound info within this link - scroll down to Returning to Ireland Guide and specific subjects. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/returning-to-ireland
Wishing you and your wife the best of luck in your gradual move to Ireland.