Government of Ireland Apply for Illness Benefit Scheme

Organization : Government of Ireland
Facility Name : Apply for Illness Benefit Scheme
Country : Ireland
Website : https://www.gov.ie/en/service/ddf6e3-illness-benefit/

What is Illness Benefit Scheme?

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 must be under pensionable age which is currently 66. Illness Benefit is paid weekly. It does not have a set payment day and can be paid Monday to Saturday depending on when the claim is registered and the first day of your illness.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for Illness Benefit, you must meet conditions related to
Age:
** You must be under pensionable age which 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.

You must also meet either Condition 1 or Condition 2 below

Condition 1:
1. You must have 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year, of which 13 must be paid contributions.

2. If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, then 13 paid contributions in one of the following tax years can be used instead
** either of the two tax years before the relevant tax year
** the last complete tax year (before the year in which your claim for Illness Benefit begins)
** the current tax year

OR

Condition 2:
** You must have 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the relevant tax year, and 26 weeks of PRSI contributions paid in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
** The relevant tax year is the second-last complete tax year before the year in which your claim for Illness Benefit begins.
** Example 1: If you make a claim in 2021, the relevant tax year is 2019.
** Example 2: If you make a claim in 2022, the relevant tax year is 2020.

Other Conditions:
You must also:
** Submit an IB1 Form (application form for Illness Benefit and Injury Benefit) and accompanying ‘Certificate of Incapacity for Work’.
** You can get these from your doctor
** Claim Illness Benefit from the first day of your illness
** Attend your doctor and submit ‘Certificate of Incapacity for Work’ as required.

How To Apply for Illness Benefit Scheme?

To Apply for Illness Benefit Scheme, Follow the below steps
Step 1: Go to the link https://services.mywelfare.ie/en/topics/health-disability-illness/illness-benefit/
Step 2: Click on Apply Now
Step 3: Enter the Email Address
Step 4: Enter the Password
Step 5: Click on Login

What do I need to complete the application?
** Your details – Questions about you, any children and relationship details where relevant
** Your illness details – You will be asked questions about your illness and certified sick leave
** Your employment details

Where should I send my certificate?
** If you have received an official Certificate of Incapacity for Work from your Doctor you should send it immediately to the Department of Social Protection, Illness Benefit, PO Box 1650, Dublin 1.
** Alternatively, your Doctor may send the Certificate directly to the Department via electronic certification (eCert).
** Please confirm with your doctor that they have submitted an electronic certification (eCert) on your behalf to ensure your Illness Benefit application is processed.

Payment Rate of Illness Benefit

The Payment Rate of Illness Benefit are given below,
Illness Benefit rates are paid at four different rates. The department works out which rate you are paid based on your average weekly earnings in the relevant tax year.

The rates are as follows:

The department works out your average weekly earnings by dividing your total earnings (before tax and some other deductions) in the relevant tax year by the actual number of weeks you have worked.