GP visit cards assesments and savings

gazzaman22

Hello, Currently have a GP visit card, since 2017 when me and the family applied for medical card - we were entitled to the GP visit card.
While trying to renew the GP visit card, there is now a section that i dont remember being there from my last application, its the "Savings/stocks" section, does anyone know if this is new?
If i didnt delcare what savings i have or my partner, how can the HSE check what money i have in my bank account, Surely they Dont have access to peoples savings accounts, or they cant demand i show them what i have....can they?
If i say i have 120,000 in savings do they look for proof?
If i say i have 20,000 in savings do they look for proof?

I'm wondering also if anyone knows if the application for the medical card requests the same information (savings accounts info) or is it only the gp renewal is looking for the savings info.

Many thanks

Springfields

gazzaman22 wrote: »

Hello, Currently have a GP visit card, since 2017 when me and the family applied for medical card - we were entitled to the GP visit card.
While trying to renew the GP visit card, there is now a section that i dont remember being there from my last application, its the "Savings/stocks" section, does anyone know if this is new?
If i didnt delcare what savings i have or my partner, how can the HSE check what money i have in my bank account, Surely they Dont have access to peoples savings accounts, or they cant demand i show them what i have....can they?
If i say i have 120,000 in savings do they look for proof?
If i say i have 20,000 in savings do they look for proof?

I'm wondering also if anyone knows if the application for the medical card requests the same information (savings accounts info) or is it only the gp renewal is looking for the savings info.

Many thanks

I know when my parents were being re assessed for their medical cards they have to provide photocopies of their savings / banks accounts in order for their application to be processed , dont know if it would be the same here...

gazzaman22

gazzaman22 wrote: »

Hello, Currently have a GP visit card, since 2017 when me and the family applied for medical card - we were entitled to the GP visit card.
While trying to renew the GP visit card, there is now a section that i dont remember being there from my last application, its the "Savings/stocks" section, does anyone know if this is new?
If i didnt delcare what savings i have or my partner, how can the HSE check what money i have in my bank account, Surely they Dont have access to peoples savings accounts, or they cant demand i show them what i have....can they?
If i say i have 120,000 in savings do they look for proof?
If i say i have 20,000 in savings do they look for proof?

I'm wondering also if anyone knows if the application for the medical card requests the same information (savings accounts info) or is it only the gp renewal is looking for the savings info.

Many thanks

There are two medical card application forms, both are listed as Medical Card/GP Card application forms, one for under 70's and the other for over 70s.
Both require details on your income and ask "Do you or your spouse or partner have investments in stocks, shares or savings
with banks or building societies or other financial institutions?" You are required to submit documentary evidence of shares, savings, investments from each financial institution for the past three months as well as documentation of your income and income from property (other than your family home). All info here and links to the application forms.https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/medical_cards_and_gp_visit_cards/medical_card.html
In the application form which you sign it also states "Before completing this part of the form, please take time to read and consider the following important information:
By law, anyone who deliberately gives false information on this form, or who deliberately withholds information
relevant to an assessment of eligibility for a Medical Card and GP Visit Card, could face a fine, imprisonment or both.
Also, by law, anyone who does not tell the HSE about a change in their circumstances that could affect their eligibility
for a Medical Card or a GP Visit Card could face a fine.
Where appropriate, the HSE reserves the right to review and modify Medical Card and GP Visit Card eligibility status
at any time."

dartboardio

Hi,

You can have up to 36,000 in savings for a single person, or 72,000 as a married couple without having to declare it. you do not need to provide proof of the savings if they are less than that amount.

Anything that is that amount or more, you must prove.

So you do not need to prove it if it is less than that amount.

If you do not declare it, well, that's basically fraud, and yes of course they could check if they so wish

(worked in medical/gp card unit before).

And yes, the gp card/medical card renewal form are the same, and they are a full means test again, basically applying again.

And yes, if you have over the amount (for example 40k savings)

No they cannot 'make' you show them anything, but your application wont be processed until you do.

gazzaman22

dartboardio wrote: »

Hi,

You can have up to 36,000 in savings for a single person, or 72,000 as a married couple without having to declare it. you do not need to provide proof of the savings if they are less than that amount.

Anything that is that amount or more, you must prove.

So you do not need to prove it if it is less than that amount.

If you do not declare it, well, that's basically fraud, and yes of course they could check if they so wish

(worked in medical/gp card unit before).

And yes, the gp card/medical card renewal form are the same, and they are a full means test again, basically applying again.

And yes, if you have over the amount (for example 40k savings)

No they cannot 'make' you show them anything, but your application wont be processed until you do.

I'm not doubting they can check, but how exactly can they, can a bank disclose my accounts to use?

dartboardio

gazzaman22 wrote: »

I'm not doubting they can check, but how exactly can they, can a bank disclose my accounts to use?

I wouldn't know the íns and outs of it, I was on the advice line rather than processing department.

Although when I worked there, looking at applications sometimes random bank accounts from ireland and UK would show up on the application, and it would say we needed proof of 'client has boi account ending 665 and also a Scottish Bank acc need proof of this'

And stuff like that.

Not sure if the person declared it on original form, or they done background checks.

Id presume they can contact a bank to see, seen as it is on a need to know basis, for a means test, but again I'm not certain