Do I have any options?

billie28

Hi there. I'm wondering if someone can offer some advice. I left school at a young age (no leaving cert) and I'm now in my late 20's. I want to return to education and eventually find a career but it's just not something that's possible at the moment due to a chronic illness I've been dealing with since then. It's serious enough that it's kept me out of work/education all this time but I don't know if it's serious enough to seek disability for. I've never even tried to claim anything because I didn't think I'd be taken seriously. I've been very lucky to be supported by family members up until this point but I now need an income of my own asap and I'm starting to panic. I know I can't sign up for job seekers but do I have any other options? I can't seem to find anything that suits my situation. Any help is greatly appreciated.

wifey28

as you have no prsi history as far as i know your only option is disability. but they will want a reason why you havetn applied for something up to this point

redbel05

If your chronic illness is enough to keep you out of work/ education then by that definition you are entitled to Disability Allowance. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/disability_allowance.html

If your illness is not serious enough that you qualify for disability allowance, (i.e. Doctors/ Social welfare/ you yourself say that you are able to work) then you need to be looking for (even part-time) work and apply for job seekers allowance. (Don't know why you say you can't?)

Both people on jobseekers allowance or disability allowance can apply for Back to education allowance. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html

You can also apply for the SUSI grant for third level education. https://susi.ie/


Edit to add... You really need to be speaking to your doctor as you will need them to certify your fitness/ unfitness to work