Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance?

whydoibother · 08-09-2020 05:04PM #1

A friend of mine was contacted by the Welfare to say that her eligibility for Illness benefit will expire in two months and they gave her the option to apply for either Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance. She is 51 now. I am not sure whether she should choose one or the other... And why is there a choice in the first place?

In addition to forgetfulness, she is suffering from depression since her parents died last year and her older brother has cancer... Physically, she cannot sit on a chair for more than 1 hour, she gets very tired and has a lot of pain when she does anything. She spends most of her time in bed - could be depression but she was never this forgetful. Anyway, my question is, in this situation, should she apply for Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance?

Thanks

SourSessions · 08-09-2020 08:57PM

Does she have the right PRSI history for Invalidy Pension? IP isn't means tested, Disability Allowance is.

whydoibother · 08-09-2020 10:01PM

SourSessions wrote: »

Does she have the right PRSI history for Invalidy Pension? IP isn't means tested, Disability Allowance is.

I’m not sure. She’s worked for at least 15 years here in Ireland. Not sure if that’s enough...

SourSessions · 08-09-2020 10:44PM

To get Invalidity Pension you must have at least:

260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance
48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last or second last completed year before the start date of your permanent incapacity for work. The start date of permanent incapacity (as decided by the Department) is usually after you have been incapable of work due to illness for one year. However, it can be less than one year if you are permanently incapable of work for life.

(from https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/invalidity_pension.html)

whydoibother · 08-09-2020 11:24PM

SourSessions wrote: »

To get Invalidity Pension you must have at least:

260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance
48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last or second last completed year before the start date of your permanent incapacity for work. The start date of permanent incapacity (as decided by the Department) is usually after you have been incapable of work due to illness for one year. However, it can be less than one year if you are permanently incapable of work for life.

(from https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/invalidity_pension.html)

Thanks for that - she worked since 2001 then off because of kids - I think she said 3 years + 3 years + 4 years + 5 years that’s why I said 15 years - not sure if being on and off makes any difference - also the last 5 years she was part time because of her health so I guess that’s 2.5 years which makes 13 years of work. She’s been on illness benefit for 2 years now. She’s been doing exams and waiting for more exams... her health was never great but now she can’t even stay sitting on a chair for more than 1 hour.

Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance?

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