possible to claim sick benefit due to illness??

crxsi09

hi all,
My wife has chronic back problems and is most definetly unable to even think about working in a job.simple lifting and pulling and even sitting for periods at home has her in agony. So what job would even suit this that wouldnt cause pain during the day is a problem too.
she hasnt been working last few years anyway since having our kids.
i was wondering is it possible for her to claim some kind of illness benefit seen as she is physically unable to go back to work. Or would it go against her that she hasnt been working the last number of years?
i presume it would require a medical exam or sign off from the doctor which would be no problem anyway?
im not well up on what you can and cannot claim etc?
Is there anyone in this scenario or who can offer any advice or what steps to take?
Many thanks..

Conall Cernach

She definitely won't get Illness Benefit unless she has been paying PRSI contributions in the last couple of years. She may be entitled to Disability Allowance if it is deemed that she is unfit for work on a long term basis and she passes a means test.

crxsi09

Conall Cernach wrote: »

She definitely won't get Illness Benefit unless she has been paying PRSI contributions in the last couple of years. She may be entitled to Disability Allowance if it is deemed that she is unfit for work on a long term basis and she passes a means test.

she hasnt worked at all in the last 14 years but has had back problems anyway but last few years very bad.Now that our child is older she wants to work to earn obviously but her back is the problem. so she wouldnt have been paying any PRSI since then anyway.

wifey28

She might qualify for disability allowance, which is notoriously hard to get, can take over a year in some cases.
But this is also means tested but if you have a good income she may not be entitled to any payment

crxsi09

wifey28 wrote: »

She might qualify for disability allowance, which is notoriously hard to get, can take over a year in some cases.
But this is also means tested but if you have a good income she may not be entitled to any payment

ya its a terrible situation because she wants to work but her body wont let her. and i have a feeling my wages will be too high too to qualify for her to get anything. we cant get the medical card either, tried few years back but obviiusly earned too much per week. ive a feeling it will be the same.

Conall Cernach

crxsi09 wrote: »

she hasnt worked at all in the last 14 years but has had back problems anyway but last few years very bad.Now that our child is older she wants to work to earn obviously but her back is the problem. so she wouldnt have been paying any PRSI since then anyway.

I would say her only chance of a payment is the Disability Allowance which is means tested.


They work it out this way: They allow you €20 per day for 3 days (max €60 per week) and then get 60% of the remainder and count that as her means. They then compare that to whatever her maximum payment would be and take the calculated means away from it to work out her actual payment.


For example if you earn €700 per week for 5 days work and have one 13 year old and 2 children under 12 it works out like this: 700 - (3x20) = 640 x 60% = €384 means.


She could claim a maximum of €203 for herself + 134.70 for you + 37 for the 13 year old + 68 for the 2 under 12s for a total potential payment of €442.70. They then take her means from that to leave a payment of €58.70 per week.


However, they will also take into account savings over €50000 and any other income you have.

crxsi09

Conall Cernach wrote: »

I would say her only chance of a payment is the Disability Allowance which is means tested.


They work it out this way: They allow you €20 per day for 3 days (max €60 per week) and then get 60% of the remainder and count that as her means. They then compare that to whatever her maximum payment would be and take the calculated means away from it to work out her actual payment.


For example if you earn €700 per week for 5 days work and have one 13 year old and 2 children under 12 it works out like this: 700 - (3x20) = 640 x 60% = €384 means.


She could claim a maximum of €203 for herself + 134.70 for you + 37 for the 13 year old + 68 for the 2 under 12s for a total potential payment of €442.70. They then take her means from that to leave a payment of €58.70 per week.


However, they will also take into account savings over €50000 and any other income you have.

wow.. so for that example the benefit amount she would receive is only €58.70 a week!!??

Portsalon

crxsi09 wrote: »

ya its a terrible situation because she wants to work but her body wont let her. and i have a feeling my wages will be too high too to qualify for her to get anything. we cant get the medical card either, tried few years back but obviiusly earned too much per week. ive a feeling it will be the same.

Have you remembered to claim tax credits for all of her medical expenses?

crxsi09

Portsalon wrote: »

Have you remembered to claim tax credits for all of her medical expenses?

she hasnt had too much done to her back as its 2 bulging discs that are out and there is not much she can do to improve these.
so its only been few sessions of physio really and an MRI over the years that she would have had done

splinter65

crxsi09 wrote: »

she hasnt had too much done to her back as its 2 bulging discs that are out and there is not much she can do to improve these.
so its only been few sessions of physio really and an MRI over the years that she would have had done

What is your gross income less PRSI how many kids have you got and I’ll tell you how much disability allowance she would get.