Irish Citizen

Steviesol

Hello,

A friend of mine lives in Italy, he came home for Christmas, got hit by a car and is very badly injured in hospital and will be for the foreseeable future.

He has lived abroad for over 10 years but was born in Ireland, is he entitled to any state help (weekly payment) due to his injury, he cannot leave hospital and I have promised to find out any info I can.

Thanks

Cushie Butterfield

I’m assuming that your friend had no travel insurance. Hopefully he has a European Health Insurance Card - if not he can apply for a certificate of coverage from Italian social security authorities.

Italy & Ireland are both covered by EC Social Security Regulations.

You need to make your enquiries at the other end (Italy) as that’s where your friend is resident & makes/made his last social insurance contribution, & any claim for assistance would have to be initialized from there. They would liaise with Dept Social Welfare here in the event he’s entitled to financial assistance while here.

I’d advise contacting a member of the social work department in the hospital that he’s in. Face to face is better so ring & make an appointment.

_Brian

Steviesol wrote: »

Hello,

A friend of mine lives in Italy, he came home for Christmas, got hit by a car and is very badly injured in hospital and will be for the foreseeable future.

He has lived abroad for over 10 years but was born in Ireland, is he entitled to any state help (weekly payment) due to his injury, he cannot leave hospital and I have promised to find out any info I can.

Thanks

He isn’t entitled to make an illness benifefit claim here as hale wouldn’t have the necessary residency nor contributions made.
That process would need to be made in Italy.

As above his public hospital charges will be covered as part of an EU deal, but I’m not sure what paperwork is required, good advice above to contact hospital face to face.

Steviesol

Yes I am not sure if his employer pays the relevant taxes or contributions in Italy, thanks for the advice I will try and make an appointment with the Social worker in the hospital.

maryk123

Social worker first point of call