Illness benefit rules

Birds22

Hi all, looking to see if anyone knows the answer or may have been in a similar position before.
I have been on illness benefit the past 2 weeks, I will return to work soon however I am unsure if I will be ready but want to give it a go (off work due to mental health issue). The only thing I am worried about is, if I return to work and then get signed off again because it was too soon will I be able to reapply for illness benefit?

I looked online and saw the following:

If you return to work, you must have a minimum of 13 reckonable PRSI contributions paid before you may requalify for Illness Benefit. (All other qualifying conditions must also be satisfied.)

So I called revenue and they said the 13 PRSI contributions is only applicable if you have been on illness benefit for 2 years. That doesn’t sound right to me based on what it says above but also it doesn’t sound right if I do the best thing and try to return to work but if it doesn’t go well then I won’t qualify for illness benefit.

Has anyone had a similar experience before? Also I get paid monthly by my employer, is it 13 months that I would have to wait before I would requalify or is it 13 weeks (or maybe I have misinterpreted it completely).

Thanks in advance.

Birds22

anyone at all?

splinter65

The 13 weeks requirement only comes into play if you have exhausted your IB entitlement and have returned to work only to become ill again.
Here’s more nitty gritty:
https://www.gov.ie/ga/foilsiuchan/fde95f-operational-guidelines-illness-benefit/#duration-of-payment
Can I just say that you actually rang welfare and not revenue. Revenue wouldn’t be able to help you.

Birds22

Ok that’s reassuring. Thank you for the info.

Yes, you’re right sorry got the info from the citizens info page

Illness Benefit
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Tel: (01) 704 3300 (If calling from outside Ireland please call +353 1 704 3300)

lughildanach

As long as you go back on your claim within 26 weeks, any new period of illness is run together with the old one and will be considered the one claim. Sounds like you have only exhausted 2 weeks of your entitlement, so you will still have 102 or 50 weeks left on your claim (depending on your PRSI record). As it is considered the same claim, you don't have to serve the 6 day waiting period and you will be paid the same rate as before.

If the gap between the two periods of illness is more than 26 weeks, then it is considered as a new claim. They will recalculate whether you are eligible and what rate you are paid. Remember that eligibility and rate depend on your prsi record in certain years, so if your new claim is in a new tax year, you may no longer be eligible or may be paid at a lower rate depending on what you were doing 2 years ago.

If you have already been on Illness Benefit for 6 months or more, there is also the option of applying for Partial Capacity Benefit. This allows you to return to work (with no restriction on hours or wages), and still keep some of your payment. In most cases the payment is reduced in half, although depending on the severity of your illness, you can keep 75% or even 100% of your payment.

Also, if you are able to return to work, but are seriously restricted in the type of work or the hours that you can do, then it may be that you qualify for Disability Allowance. This is means tested.

Birds22

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful.
Yes, I have only availed of 2 weeks, I have been working full time since 2010 so I qualify for the 2 years. In 2018 and 2019 my pay was similar so it should stay the same I would imagine.
Hopefully I won’t need to claim again once I go back to work but it’s reassuring to know it’s possible if needed.