Ilness Benefit, weekly v monthly

[dariuscork]

Does anyone know when you are switched from weekly to monthly certs, wife on weekly certs for 3 months now and will be out longterm, doctor says its up to social welfare to decide and social welfare says doctor decides, very confusing anyone been through this before ? thanks.

 

[STEINER]

I don't know why Social Protection leave it so long to change someone from weekly to monthly. I was one year on weekly before they changed me to monthly and I was clearly long-term from day 1. Ring the Illness Benefit section to ask about monthly. It does cause unneeded hassle having to go every week to GP or hospital doctor for a cert.

 

[TheShark]

Illness Benefit will review your case from time to time
They alone will decide when and if you move to monthly certs.

 

[gimp]

Contact Benefit section and ask to be switched to 6 monthly.
Get letter from Doctor to back this up if this is long term and difficult to visit weekly. Remember the doctor gets paid to sign certs.
If your wife is facing long term should you not apply now for invalidity as you will no longer need to get certs if on invalidity pension

 

[dariuscork]

Thank you for your replies, in relation to invalidity she was advised by doctor to stay on illness benefit until department call her for assessment and then to switch.

 

[gimp]

Depending on your circumstances, the date you apply for Invalidity can be important as any claims will be backdated to the date you applied.

On application you will no doubt get refused invalidity as this seems to be the general way things operate these days...ie. refuse everything.
You then have to appeal etc etc and go through all this. Which takes over a year at this stage
But if your appeal is granted it is then backdated to the original date when you applied
This also means backdating any household benefits package etc you may be entitled to

"advised by doctor to stay on illness benefit until department call her for assessment and then to switch"
As i said Remember the Doctor gets paid for every Cert he signs.

If you wife is going to be out longterm I see no reason why she should not just apply for invalidity but maybe you may have a reason not identified here again why would a doctor advise to wait if this is a long term issue?