Guardian Payment & Medical card

[Feelfree]

Hi everyone,

First post here. I'm looking for a little help please.

I'm in receipt of an Orphan's Allowance payment as I am the guardian of my younger brother. He has recently turned 18 but is still in school and will be completing his leaving cert next year.

Can anyone tell me if he is entitled to a medical card? I'm in full-time employment so I'm not entitled to one personally. Maybe this means that he is looked at as if he was my child so he is not entitled to one?

Any help appreciated. Just ask if anything needs clarification.

Thanks.

 

[gipimann]

Normally, persons aged 16-25 are only eligible for a medical card if -

- they are dependant on a medical card holder or
- they are financially independent and meet the income guidelines

A person is deemed financially independent if they have the equivalent of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance rate (currently €186 pw) from income or other sources (e.g. student grants).

A complication arises because guardian's payment isn't counted as means/income when assessing for a medical card - so your brother doesn't have a SW income which might give him an entitlement to a card, but might be deemed to be your dependant at the same time which would rule him out because you don't qualify yourself.

I suggest using the "contact me" link on www.medicalcard.ie to send the query directly to the PCRS (primary care reimbursement scheme) area who manage medical cards.