Invalidity Pension

Brazzer

Hi Guys

So I've been granted Invalidity Pension after applying for it last Nov. My Illness benefit ran out in Feb so haven't been on a payment since. I'm delighted of course but have a few questions and don't seem to be able to get any answers from SW. I thought it was granted for a 12 month term which i now know is incorrect but I don't know how long I am entitled to be on this payment for? I rang citizens information and they said that there is no term of allowance, they can check up on you after a year, could be 5 years or never contact me at all. Is that really the case?

On a far more positive note, I am pregnant and we're delighted of course. It prob will affect my illness but to us is worth it. Do I apply for Maternity Benefit and get a half/half payment, not sure if that's one of the SW payments that can be paid at half rate and when I rang Mat Ben they were unsure and said to send in the form anyway but I would have to send it through my employer too.

Anyone on Invalidity Benefit? Would be delighted to hear your experiences and of course anyone had a baby while been on it??

Thanks in advance guys :-)

wifey28

to apply for maternity ben you need to be employed right up to the date you wish togo on leave. You could jsut stay on your invalidity tho as the payments are similar enough inamount weekly so youd not be losing anything really. you just let themknow when the baby is born so that if your entitled to the half rate for a child (its means tested, if your partner brings in over 400 a week then you wont be) that will be added on from the dateof birth



And yes there is notime frame for invalidity, its called a pension for a reason, you can stay on it right up to pension age

Brazzer

Thanks wifey28 for the reply. Would you know what time frame they make contact with you, like is it 12 months and then reviewed etc? Great to know about Mat Ben, I wasn't sure if it was a half rate payment or not, thanks for the info on that.

splinter65

Brazzer wrote: »

Thanks wifey28 for the reply. Would you know what time frame they make contact with you, like is it 12 months and then reviewed etc? Great to know about Mat Ben, I wasn't sure if it was a half rate payment or not, thanks for the info on that.

They might never make contact with you. In 13 years I’ve never known anyone on IP be contacted about a review.
Literally you are on it until you die because at 66 they just switch you auto to the full rate of pension. That’s why it’s so difficult to get. Is your OH your dependent on your IP?

Brazzer

Hi Splinter, thanks for replying. No my husband works but when I got my free travel card last week they said my spouse could travel for free with me. He earns more than the €400pw allowed to claim half rate for child dependents so we don't get any allowance for them. TBH I'm just so stunned I got it after 11 months and I don't know anyone on it so have no clue about it at all.

Ginger83

Brazzer wrote: »

Hi Splinter, thanks for replying. No my husband works but when I got my free travel card last week they said my spouse could travel for free with me. He earns more than the €400pw allowed to claim half rate for child dependents so we don't get any allowance for them. TBH I'm just so stunned I got it after 11 months and I don't know anyone on it so have no clue about it at all.

I'm on IP 3 years and have never had a review. I think thats partly why its so hard to get.

Brazzer

Thanks Ginger,

That's great to know, I don't want to be constantly waiting to be called if it's unlikely to happen, iykwim. I have no problem submitting doctors reports etc, I half expect that. Do you mind if I ask you Ginger, have you had children while on IP?

splinter65

Brazzer wrote: »

Hi Splinter, thanks for replying. No my husband works but when I got my free travel card last week they said my spouse could travel for free with me. He earns more than the €400pw allowed to claim half rate for child dependents so we don't get any allowance for them. TBH I'm just so stunned I got it after 11 months and I don't know anyone on it so have no clue about it at all.

I think that you might be concerned that someone in the Dept will say “hmmm... too disabled to work but not too disabled to have a baby? Let me see...” honestly I can assure you that that just won’t happen. There’s no judgements like that at all. For a woman your age to be successful in applying for IP you must be very incapacitated by your condition and that’s why you got it.

Ginger83

Brazzer wrote: »

Thanks Ginger,

That's great to know, I don't want to be constantly waiting to be called if it's unlikely to happen, iykwim. I have no problem submitting doctors reports etc, I half expect that. Do you mind if I ask you Ginger, have you had children while on IP?

Hi yes in our situation i was diagnosed with motor neurone disease and went on IP. My wife gave up work to care for me so i claim for her as a dependant and 2 kids.

My wife gets a half carer rate.

wifey28

my mams been on invalidity for about 30 years now, never beencalled up for a review or anything like that, never even remeans tested when my dad got better jobs that would have taken her over the limit for the half rate kids portion (altho imnot sure if that would have aplied as she was on it so long anyway)

Brazzer

Thanks Guys, feeling more reassured now and losing the fear of them taking it off me!!

jotspur

Hi guys.

What kind of financial statements do I need to submit with my Invalidity Pension application? Current account or savings and investment accounts or both?

jotspur

jotspur wrote: »

Hi guys.

What kind of financial statements do I need to submit with my Invalidity Pension application? Current account or savings and investment accounts or both?

The application form specifies the following:

— Statements from all financial institutions showing the last 6 months transactions and the name and address of the account holder(s). (if you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant have money or investments in a financial institution).
— Advice slips from any pensions you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are receiving
https://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/inv1.pdf

jotspur

Balagan1 wrote: »

The application form specifies the following:

— Statements from all financial institutions showing the last 6 months transactions and the name and address of the account holder(s). (if you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant have money or investments in a financial institution).
— Advice slips from any pensions you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant are receiving
https://www.welfare.ie/en/pdf/inv1.pdf

Yes, that is the bit I am unclear on.

Do you think that they want current account statements? And credit card statements?

jotspur

jotspur wrote: »

Yes, that is the bit I am unclear on.

Do you think that they want current account statements? And credit card statements?[/QUOTE

Am assuming that since Invalidity Pension is not means tested (is based on your PRSI contributions) that the provision of financial documentation is to cover in the event of you having a dependant on your claim (dependants on Invalidity Pensions being means tested). Usually, in the means testing scenario, they want to see all financial accounts showing your means but not credit card details as debts are not taken into account.

jotspur

Balagan1 wrote: »

jotspur wrote: »

Yes, that is the bit I am unclear on.

Do you think that they want current account statements? And credit card statements?[/QUOTE

Am assuming that since Invalidity Pension is not means tested (is based on your PRSI contributions) that the provision of financial documentation is to cover in the event of you having a dependant on your claim (dependants on Invalidity Pensions being means tested). Usually, in the means testing scenario, they want to see all financial accounts showing your means but not credit card details as debts are not taken into account.

No, I am not claiming an increase for my wife or son.

jotspur

jotspur wrote: »

Balagan1 wrote: »

No, I am not claiming an increase for my wife or son.

Okay, so I understand that if you are granted an Invalidity Pension you will automatically qualify for Free Travel. Could it be that since a Fuel Allowance section is also contained in the Invalidity Pension application and that is means tested for those on a contributory payment, then that is the only reason (since you are not claiming for a dependant adult or child) that documentation on your finances would be needed at all. If you are not applying for Fuel Allowance also, then it would be clear that you don't need to supply any financial documentation as your Invalidity Pension personal rate is not means tested. No harm in giving Citizens Information a phone call to check that this is the case.

Brazzer

Jotspur, I didn't include any financial documents but I didn't claim for any of my kids. They never came back and asked me for them either...

okatied

I got called for a review after about 6 months. I have Mental Health problems. I must say that the doctor was lovely. He went through documentation from psychiatrist and GP and my meds. I had to describe a typical day. My husband was with me. When I was leaving he told me not to worry about IP and that I won't be called for review in the near future.

I've never had to supply financial records as it's not means tested.

Karoq

okatied wrote: »

I got called for a review after about 6 months. I have Mental Health problems. I must say that the doctor was lovely. He went through documentation from psychiatrist and GP and my meds. I had to describe a typical day. My husband was with me. When I was leaving he told me not to worry about IP and that I won't be called for review in the near future.

I've never had to supply financial records as it's not means tested.

Hi, I too at the moment is in receipt of illness benefit because of my mental health illness. I will be applying for IP soon but i am very nervous and anxious as I know I cant keep a job over my illness but will probably be refused.