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Going to college whilst on long term sick leave?

  • 05-02-2013 12:33PM
    #1
    fro9etb8j5qsl2
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,391 ✭✭✭


    My brother was involved in a workplace accident 3 years ago and has been on sick leave on and off (anything from weeks to months) since from his injuries. He has been off again now for the last 3 months and has now been told by his doctor that his injury might never heal and that he might not be able to go back to work. His work has a staggered sick leave payment scheme where by after about a year, pay dwindles to just the social welfare illness benefit. He reckons that he probably won't be able to go back to work and that eventually, after being on long term sick leave for so long, they'll take him
    off the books. He's been going stir crazy at home with nothing to keep him occupied and now he's wondering would it be possible (assuming he will still be on sick leave) to go back to college in September while still getting sick pay from his job and illness benefit from the social welfare? He wouldn't be looking for any type of grant, he just wants something to challenge him and keep his mind occupied :) Is there any reason why he couldn't do this?


Comments

  • #2
    Kristopherus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,902 ✭✭✭✭Kristopherus


    If he can go to college, then his employer is very likely to frown on it. That being the case, he is likely to be sacked. So he'd need to consider his options very carefully. He is very lucky to be still getting some income from his employer after 3 yrs. My guess is that they'd be glad to have an excuse to let him go.


  • #3
    tatli_lokma
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,332 ✭✭✭tatli_lokma


    You can't claim SW benefit as being unfit for work and then attend college full time. The idea is that if you could work, you would. But if you are in college full time, you couldn't work FT anyway. If you can go to college FT you could probably return to work - maybe not the same job, but some sort of job.

    I would advise he contact citizens information and find out what his options are in terms of applying for possibly disability benefit or if there is any other type of benefit which will allow him to attend college and keep some benefits. It might be a case that he needs to attend a p/t evening course instead rather than a full time one, or something like that.

    But claiming SW benefit and in effect taking yourself out of the workplace don't go well together, and they really are cracking down on this sort of thing. Better to find out what the most appropriate type of benefit he is entitled to and what the rules are around it.

    Maybe post in the State benefits forum?


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