Optical Treatment Benefit Rejected

DaveyDave

Hi all,

My optician put in for the optical refund when I got an eyetest, glasses and lenses. I got a letter two months later stating I did not have enough contributions.

The first issue is this was last year. I misplaced the letter to appeal, is it too late to do so now?

The letter only counted 2015 and 2016, it had no mention of 2017 or 2018. I have worked full time since March 2014 and it was over two years since my previous eye test. I was 26 the time of this eye test.

Can I still claim for this even though it was last year?

Also, how do I know how many contributions I have made?

Portsalon

DaveyDave wrote: »

My optician put in for the optical refund when I got an eyetest, glasses and lenses. I got a letter two months later stating I did not have enough contributions.

The first issue is this was last year. I misplaced the letter to appeal, is it too late to do so now?

The letter only counted 2015 and 2016, it had no mention of 2017 or 2018. I have worked full time since March 2014 and it was over two years since my previous eye test. I was 26 the time of this eye test.

Can I still claim for this even though it was last year?

Also, how do I know how many contributions I have made?

You were aged 26 last year when you had the test.

The TB rules are:-

Aged 25-65:

From the age of 25 onwards, you must have at least 260 paid contributions

That's 5 full years of paying PRSI - so I doubt that you could have met this qualifying condition in 2018, seeing that you only started working in 2014.

and

At least 39 paid or credited contributions in the governing contribution year (2016 is the governing contribution year for claims made in 2018)

or

26 paid contributions in each of the second and third last contribution years. For claims made in 2018, the second last contribution year is 2016 and the third last contribution year is 2015.

Seeing as you didn't meet the essential qualification criterion of 260 paid contributions, you have no grounds for an appeal.

DaveyDave

That's what the letter says but it doesn't explain what 260 contributions is. The revenue and welfare websites don't explain what they are either. I must be blind because I can't find out what a contribution is or what it's based off.

The only thing I can find is that I can request a contribution statement.

Portsalon

DaveyDave wrote: »

That's what the letter says but it doesn't explain what 260 contributions is. The revenue and welfare websites don't explain what they are either. I must be blind because I can't find out what a contribution is or what it's based off.

PRSI is a payment made by you and your employer. The value of this payment is based on the amount of your pay.

The total amount of PRSI paid by an employee and their employer in one pay period is called a PRSI contribution.

(From the Revenue website.)

splinter65

DaveyDave wrote: »

That's what the letter says but it doesn't explain what 260 contributions is. The revenue and welfare websites don't explain what they are either. I must be blind because I can't find out what a contribution is or what it's based off.

The only thing I can find is that I can request a contribution statement.

Every week that you earn more then €38 your employer must make a PRSI “contribution” for you. If you earn enough that week the you have to make a “contribution” yourself.
You can see on any payslip you ever got what contribution you made.
Your contribution says:
PRSI: (ee)
Your employers contribution on your behalf says:
PRSI: (er).
When you lose your job or are out sick or caring for someone etc you continue to be “credited” with a PRSI contribution as long as you are claiming certain SW payments but these “credits” have less value to you in the short term then actual contributions.
Someone if your age needs to have made 250 (5 full years of these contributions) in total to get the Treatment Benefit when you applied in 2018.
You didn’t have 250 then so you can’t get it.

Portsalon

splinter65 wrote: »

Someone your age needs to have made 250 (5 full years of these contributions) in total to get the Treatment Benefit when you applied in 2018.
You didn’t have 250 then so you can’t get it.

260!!!

splinter65

Portsalon wrote: »

260!!!

That’s right 260 I always get that wrong!
5X52=260