Domiciliary Care Allowance
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- This is a monthly payment for a child with a severe disability.
- The payment is not based on the type of disability. It is based on the impact of the disability.
- To qualify:
- your child must be under 16
- the mental or physical disability must be severe
- the disability must be likely to last for at least one year
- your child must need ongoing care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age
- your child must be resident in the Irish State
- your child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for five or more days a week
- NOTE: If your child is in full-time residential care, you are not eligible. If your child is in residential care but is at home for two days or more a week, you may get a half-rate payment.
- More information is available at: gov – Domiciliary Care Allowance (www.gov.ie)
- To qualify:
- Domiciliary Care Allowance Section
- Address: Social Welfare Services Office, Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford, N39 E4E0
- Email: domcare@welfare.ie
- Phone number: 043 3340000 / 0818 927770
Application Forms can be downloaded below. If you need a copy printed, please contact my Office and we will send any requested forms out to you.
Illness Benefit
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- Illness Benefit is a scheme to support you if you cannot work in the short term if you are ill. Your illness must be certified by a doctor.
- Illness Benefit is not linked to your employer’s policy on pay for sick leave.
- You should claim Illness Benefit within 6 weeks of becoming ill. This applies whether your employer pays you or not while you are out sick from work. You should claim for Illness Benefit from the first day of your illness. You also should be certified by a doctor from your first day of illness.
- To qualify for Illness Benefit, you must meet conditions related to:
- You must be under pensionable age. This is currently 66.
- Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions:
- You must have at least 104 class A, E, H or P social insurance (PRSI) contributions paid since first starting work.
- More information on this is available at: gov – Illness Benefit (www.gov.ie)
How to Apply:
- You can apply for Illness Benefit online through MyWelfare. If you are unable to apply online you may ask your doctor for an IB1 application form.
- If you have a verified or basic MyGovID account you can apply online on MyWelfare.ie.
- If you cannot apply online, you can request an IB1 claim form from your GP. Alternatively, you can request an IB1 claim form by calling the Illness Benefit contact number +353 1 704 3300 or 0818 928 400 or emailing illnessbenefit@welfare.ie and providing your full name and address.
- Please include “Application Request” in the subject line of the email.
- All completed certificates and forms should be sent to:
- Illness Benefit Section, Social Welfare Services, PO Box 1650, Dublin 1
More information is available at: gov – Illness Benefit (www.gov.ie)
Invalidity Pension
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- Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance (PRSI).
- Once you reach the age of 66, you transfer automatically to the State Pension (Contributory) at the full rate.
- You are entitled to a Free Travel Scheme travel pass. You may also get extra social welfare benefits, such as the Household Benefits Package.
To qualify you must satisfy both medical and social insurance (PRSI) conditions.
Medical:
- have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) or
- be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, you can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from your job to Invalidity Pension).
Social Insurance Contributions:
- Only class A, E, H and S contributions count for Invalidity Pension.
- To get Invalidity Pension you must have at least:
- 260 weeks of paid PRSI contributions (5 years) since entering social insurance and
- 48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last OR second-last complete contribution year before the relevant date.
- The relevant date is established based on the date of commencement of permanent incapacity for work.
- You cannot use voluntary contributions to satisfy the contribution conditions for Invalidity Pension.
- A Deciding Officer will examine your claim and decide on your entitlement based on the qualifying conditions outlined above.
More information is available at: gov – Invalidity Pension (www.gov.ie)
Application Form can be downloaded below. If you need a copy printed, please contact my Office and we will send any requested forms out to you.