Disability Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit

TP4725

Hello all, I would appreciate any advice you may be able to offer on my situation

I currently have a full time job that pays a good salary but due to an ongoing chronic health condition it has become apparent that it is no longer sustainable for me to continue in my current role.

I spent over 6 months out on sick leave earlier this year and I returned to work full time in September. I managed ok initially but my health situation has begun to deteriorate again over the past 2 to 3 weeks. And it is clear to me that I cannot continue in this role in the longer term if I am to recover my full health and wellbeing.

Unfortunately the nature of my current role does not allow the option of working part time or temporarily relinquishing some of my duties and responsibilities to make it more manageable. So my options are to take more sick leave but I have only a limited amount of sick leave remaining and it is unlikely that I will be well enough to fully resume my duties sustainably within the additional time this would buy for me.

So it appears resigning may be my only realistic option. I would intend working in another role on a part-time basis as I am not so unwell that I need to be completely out of work. I have been looking into social welfare options that may be available as I will suffer a significant reduction in income by working part time. I have some conflicting advice after visiting the citizens information office and the social welfare office.

The CIO advised I could apply for either disability Allowance on the basis of my chronic health condition or Jobseekers Benefit, and that having been approved for either of these I could also work part-time with a reduction in my SW payment on weeks when I earned above a certain amount.

The SW Office however advised otherwise, that really in my situation I wouldn't qualify for JSB as I'm not fully available for work by only wanting to work part time and if I instead apply for DA that doesn't allow the same flexibility in terms of part-time work so I would be very limited in what I could do. She advised I should apply for illness Benefit instead but I really want to continue working in some capacity as having already spent 6 months on sick leave I don't want to spend another lengthy period out of work and thankfully I'm not so unwell that I am completely unable to work.

In summary, I'm not well enough to continue in my current role but it appears that I'm not so unwell that I would be entitled to SW benefits to supplement my reduced income while working part-time. Perhaps others have faced a similar situation and could share their advice or experiences. Sorry for the lengthy post

SourSessions

You flat out won't get jobseekers based on your unavailability for full-time work. I'm sorry you're in this situation but it sounds like Disability Allowance is really all you qualify for moving forward. If your illness is expected to last at least one year, you are entitled to apply. Claim Illness Benefit in the short term if you're entitled as Disability Allowance can take a long while to get (and most are initially rejected and then have to appeal) or apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance in the interim but there is a means test associated with that. As far as I'm aware you cannot work on Illness Benefit. You can work part-time on SWA. How much you actually get will depend on your means.

gipi

You should apply for illness benefit as it is based on your prsi contributions - disability allowance is means tested.

While you can't work when getting illness benefit, you may be eligible for partial capacity benefit, which allows you to work part time and keep some payment. It's also based on prsi contributions.

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/disability-and-illness/partial-capacity-benefit/

SourSessions

Just to note timelines on the above ^ if you are coming from Illness Benefit, your Partial Capacity Payment will only continue to the end of your entitlement to Illness Benefit (1-2 years depending on your contributions)

banie01

If you have appropriate number of PRSI contributions paid? The better path would be Illness benefit and then either Invalidity pension or partial capacity benefit once you have a better handle on your health.

SourSessions

Sorry OP I was under the impression your condition was long-term, PCB is probably what you should look into if it's just in the next couple of years to get through. But note you can't transfer to it until you've been on Illness Benefit for six months (without working). You get three years if you switch to it from Invalidity Pension

TP4725

Thanks to all who took time to reply

If I want to do some work part-time which is certainly my preference, it appears that I won't be eligible for any SW benefits so I'll have to weigh up what I can potentially earn in a part-time capacity.

I assume if working part-time even on a casual basis that I can claim illness Benefit on a week where my health prevents me from working which is certainly a possibility?

SourSessions

Yes but they don't pay the first 3 days of a claim (after you've taken any statutory sickness days). I believe each claim would be new even for the same illness if you work in-between claims.

SourSessions

If your income is very low from the part time work, you can apply for supplementary welfare allowance.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058377615/disability-allowance-or-jobseekers-benefit

Jobseekers won't be an option I'm afraid but DA might. It is probably better to be on illness benefit if eligible when applying for DA but I wasn't.

If your illness has a Diagnosis, I'd be applying for both Invalidity pension & DA, IP is not means tested, DA is but be advised Both extremely difficult to be approved for despite what you might here. I say apply for both as there's no reason not too.

Be prepared for at least 8 wks for a Decision & possible decline requiring a review or appeal. You'll require supporting medical documentation /Reports & your GP to complete a section on the DA application. With IP Applications, medical reports requested Seperately.

Good luck with whatever decision you decide.