Invalidity pension advice

Charliewharlie

My GP has suggested I apply for this, the dept of SW sent him a letter to review my ongoing entitlement to illness benefit and there was a part where he said he ticked "Indefinitely" when asked how much longer I'd be sick for.

I've been reading about it and don't know if I'll actually get it. I suffer from mental health issues.

Since 2020 I've been on illness benefit and had the full entitlement as I had been working for over five years in one rolepreviously and before that of course but a couple job losses with recession and things. (Or some sickness with my mental health issues where the SW helped me on and off since I was a teen, I'm closer to 40 now).

I've never been able to afford counselling so just use medications but when I read online it says it takes years to get and you need reports from specialists I just have my GP and my IB ends in a few months.

If I apply now and I keep having to appeal which seems the way I read it then maybe I won't have the entitlement to it then and how many times can I appeal before they tell me to go away, I won't have any enticement to any payment during my wait time due to my spouse working and we own pur home etc, bit worried as we have child to support.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058207892/invalidity-pension-advice

Good Morning, I don't have the experience others have of this benifit but from what I've learned from others experience, whilst a daunting process the most important aspect of claiming any long term illness type payment is the support of your GP. Of course any additional history, specialist reports can only help in any application but I don't believe you need to be put off by the absence of this. Your GP will have full history, medications etc and not all patients referred on to a specialist.

You mentioned invalidity Pension and that is extremely difficult to get approval on, perhaps your GP has not considered Disibility Allowance? This I would think is the next step, rather than IP. It's a more long term payment and also requires a detailed application but my sense is this is probably the payment to consider and best applied for before illness benefit runs out.

Keep in mind DA and IP are means tested and can take time to be approved and also applications may be declined initially, but can be appealed were a dedicated case officer reviews the claim.

There's others on here that will offer more advice on their experiences but initially I'm thinking DA as a first step.

I wish you well🙂

Bannasidhe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117862268#Comment_117862268

Just a wee correction on this - IP is based on PPNS contributions and not means tested. It is difficult to get and support of GP, esp they continuing to certify claimant as unfit for work (even if IB has ended) plays a large part.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863387#Comment_117863387

Thank you, my mistake, I meant to separate DA and IP in terms of means testing 😏 but thank you for clarifying . Do you think the OP better option would be DA at this stage 🤔

Bannasidhe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863420#Comment_117863420

If the OP has the required stamps for IP I doubt they would be given DA tbh.

My understanding is it's like JSA/JSB - all comes down to contributions.

My advice would be claim as soon as possible, be prepared to be knocked back, appeal, and keep sending in those certs until either IB/DA is granted or all appeal have been exhausted. The key with IB is demonstrating the OP is unfit to return to work within one year of date of claim.

banie01

I'm in receipt of this pension. In what seems to be an aberration for its award, I never actually applied for it. I was on IB, I had a medical review with SW, with a questionnaire and a similar request for info to my GP and I was transferred from IB to IP with zero further involvement or application on my part.

My advice to the OP would be to complete the application, submit it with any and all supporting info that you have to hand and in particular outline the impact and limitations that your illness imposes upon you. Keep copies of everything you submit.

The other thing to remember is that IP is a benefit based on contributions, so check and ensure you have entitlement too.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863464#Comment_117863464

Thank you, I've limited knowledge of this particular topic , just felt it might be a big leap from IB to IP but again, I understand every circumstance different.

Thanks again

Charliewharlie

Thank you all for your information I very much appreciate it. I don't think I qualify for the DA due to means test and working spouse. But the Invalidity seems to be different and relevant according to the doc.

Charliewharlie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863477#Comment_117863477

Really? Would you mind me asking what year that happened in, I hear they change rules alot on how you avail of things?

Yes, I received forms one for me to fill and one I had to bring to GP. Did they just send you a letter ack to say they changed you to the IP?

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863477#Comment_117863477

Very helpful, thank you, may I ask how long ago did you just move to IP , I only ask as I understood it required quite a detailed application

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863893#Comment_117863893

2019, and yes a letter informing of change in payment type and advising of free travel and potential entitlement to household benefits package.

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863926#Comment_117863926

In 2019.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863893#Comment_117863893

It sounds positive , I have just asked the same question as I genuinely understood IP required quite a detail application and yes rules/ criteria do appear to change quite a lot

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863931#Comment_117863931

Wow, well that definitely quite recent , so OP sounds like you might have the answers you need.

Thanks again

Charliewharlie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117863927#Comment_117863927

Thank you for your reply.

Did you have to "agree" for lack of a better word to the change, was there a form for you to sign to say that you were happy to change?

I wonder if I had a different illness more easy to prove and or older nearer retirement age would I have a better chance of this (I won't ask you your age or illness, none of my business I'm just going off all my Internet research today).

Thanks again for taking the time to reply, you and everybody. I had originally thought I might be able to force myself better in some way bybthe time the IB ran out so I could work again but it's not happening it seems, silly of me to think.

banie01

I cannot remember having to agree to the change, it may have been included in the forms or the questionnaire I completed at the SW medical, but the changeover itself was notified by letter.

Regarding age, I was 37 when I went on IB and 39 when placed on IP. Illness is of course private, but the level of evidence required I can probably attest to, even though I didn't directly apply.

My ongoing certs when I was on IB, the reports from my GP that SW requested, their own SW medical review at which I provided details of Illnesses, treatments and treating specialists. Now I do not know if at any point SW contacted any of my treating specialists for any information, but I assume that they have.

May '21 would have been my 2yr anniversary on IB and I have had no further contact with the Dept regarding further medical info. I have dealt with them regarding a return to Uni, and they were quick to approve my request.

Look I hope the info is of some help and if I can offer anymore info, I'm happy to.

Charliewharlie

Sure you're only a young lad :)

Ah I see there was a medical meeting I read that on my letter that they might call me to meet with someone I just thought it was to make sure I wasn't faking anything for my IB or living in another country claiming benefits through a scam.

I was thinking they just popped you on to IP just based on those similar forms I received.

I'm glad to hear you are able to return to uni and getting support with this, that is really positive I hope things only get better for you.

You are so kind to offer advice to me.

banie01

As I keep telling my slightly older Mrs, I'm still a toyboy 😉

There was a meeting with their Doctor. He reviewed my forms and my supplied history along with I'd assume any other info that the dept was forwarded. A nurse was also present for that interview. There was a cursory medical exam of BP, pulse and so on but the entirety of the meat of that review was questions on my medical history and impact of illness on my "day to day".

I think it was within 2 weeks of that review my payment was switched.

mystic

When someone is coming to the end of their Illness Benefit claim (1 year or 2 years, depending on their total PRSI contributions) or their claim is being reviewed, they receive 2 forms. MR33 and MR99. One is filled in by the GP and the other by the person themselves.

If the illness/disability is expected to last into the future they are considered for Invalidity Pension so when their Illness Benefit stops they move onto Invalidity Pension without delay.

A similar process happens when someone is coming to the end of their Jobseekers Benefit (JB) claim. The relevant Jobseekers Allowance (JA) forms are sent in advance of this so their claim can be decided and there's a transition from JB to JA.

banie01

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865853#Comment_117865853

Brilliant info, and certainly clarifies my own transition. Thanks.

Charliewharlie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117865853#Comment_117865853

Yes those form numbers look familiar, maybe the GP thought I had to apply for IP separately to that or I misunderstood.

I thought they just told people to apply for the disability allowance afterward but I wouldn't get that as spouse works and we own home etc and I think that is for people who might have an average return to work date.

I really thought it just assessed my ongoing entitlement to the IB for the next few months. I would have included even more info had I understood or asked GP for a letter.

They asked me to fill out a form the year before that was similar but there was no GP form with it. I hope I put enough information as I assume they can see all my information on my file whenever I reply so hope they can check all my replies so they can understand.

Thank for your comment.

Cherry Blossom

Don’t be so quick to rule out DA. DA is a long term payment. You’re principle private residence does not count as means for DA or for most social welfare payments. The limits for savings and wages either of yourself or spouse are really very generous. At least inform yourself of these and work out the figures for the means test yourself before you disregard it as an option.

mystic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117866753#Comment_117866753

Another piece of info people might find useful.

A person with enough PRSI contributions can apply immediately for Invalidity Pension (IP) without the requirement to be on Illness Benefit first. It's harder to get IP this way but it's possible.

angela1711

Hi OP. My husband got approved for IP a couple of months ago. He is in his early 40ties. Overall they are only two forms you need to fill, one is to be completed by your GP and the other by the applicant. One if not the most important thing is to write a letter from yourself outlining how your illness impacts your day to day life and how your are unable to do ANY type of work as a result of your illness. I think my husband’s letter was about 3-4 A4 pages long. He still got turned down the first time and had to appeal but got it on appeal. Most people are turned down the first time so don’t let that discourage you.

As people mentioned above, IP is not means tested but you need a certain number of PRSI contributions. This is obviously good if you have a working partner any savings etc as none of it is taken into account.

My husband didn’t have to go through any additional medical examination and from what I heard most people don’t go through one. If you have any consultants reports include all this as well.

I know a few people that are on IP for years one is getting it for about 20 years and was never ever called by the department about anything throughout all this time. So it must be a pretty permanent payment unless you decide to go off it.

Charliewharlie

I'm not sure if I'm pressing the correct thanks button on everyone's comments but I'm trying to, think I nearly thanked myself on one by mistake.

I

angela1711

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869548#Comment_117869548

I find this new boards layout horrendous to be honest 😡

Charliewharlie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869538#Comment_117869538

Thank you very much.

May I ask if you don't mind did he wait very long after he applied again? I didn't even realise the forms sent were related to this till I got advice on here, I'm so clueless.

Hopefully I won't be without a payment if that happens but I'll try look into cutting out bills, I asked could I take a small pension out I had but apparently not till I'm 50 or I've got a serious illness ( I assume that means dying of something).

angela1711

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117869581#Comment_117869581

We anticipated a long wait so have actually applied maybe around 6 months if not more before his IB was due to run out. First application was send at the end of Dec 2020. Got turned down at the very beginning of Feb 2021. So around 4 weeks wait time there. Send an appeal immediately and was approved in March 2021. I don’t know if they had less applications due to the pandemic or what but overall the whole process took about 3 months. I have previously heard from people that it can take much longer then this.

angela1711

Oh also take photocopies of everything and send it via a registered post as we previously had issues with SW saying that they never received medical reports in time etc.

Berberis

Could anyone tell me if people who are on invalidity pension are also entitled to a medical card

Or is this means tested along with spouses income

hawthorne

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118489013#Comment_118489013

National Medical Card Guidelines (hse.ie)