Invalidity Pension

Hi All,

I am from Ireland.

I suffered a Severe Debilitating injury in 2018.

I had not worked in Ireland in 2016, 17 or 18.

I received illness benefit in 2018 + 2019 + 2020 and applied also for Invalidity Pension. The rules are you must have 1) 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance AND
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.

I satisified 1 but not 2 as I was abroad.

So here is my question - if I attempt to go back to work in Ireland and last 3/4 months before I cannot continue does this move my start date of my permanent incapacity for work. Say Mid 2021 I cannot work anymore due to some medical issues that are not improving. Does these mean my Permanent Incapacity changes to 2021 as opposed to 2018.

If it does I will satisfy 1 and 2 as I will have 48 credited/paid contributions in the last completed year (2020) before the start date of my permanent incapacity for work.

This is just a worst case scenario as I hope I can get back to work and have no issues.

Many thanks
J