Long term illness - Interested in getting 1 Yr break from work - What are my options?

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I am currently working in Civil Service as a permanent staff and is thinking about taking a 1 yr break from work from Sept 2025. I am under treatment (HSE) from 2007 onwards for severe mental health issues. I am a member of FORSA. I dont have any income protection scheme, as my application for FORSA income protection scheme was rejected by New Ireland recently, because of pre-existing medical conditions. I am currently contributing an AVC of around 500 euro each month.​

Mine and my wife's salary is combinely assesed by revenue for tax purpose. I dont have any other source of income.

I will be comfortable if I could get a payment each month from whatever source to manage my expenses like medicines etc as I am paying PRSI. I would like to resume work after 1 year.

My Salary, PAYE and PRSI amounts.

Current Yearly Salary: 58,791.00
Annual Tax Credit: 1,975.00
Annual Cut Off: 33,000.00
Monthly PAYE : 950.00
Monthly PRSI: 200.00

What are my options?

1. Career Break?

2. Shorter Working Year?

3. Long term sick leave?

4. Any other options?

Please advice. Thanks...
 
The most straight forward is to take a 12 month leave of absence. Many companies get this request from staff for lots of different reasons and most are inclined to grant it due to the benefit of having a fully trained staff member back after 12 months. The issue for you is that you are without an income, but you could take on part time work during the year. And you should explore if you can avail of unemployment benefit.

Your second option of going on sick leave is a bit trickier. If your GP certifies you as being unable to work due to ill health then of course you cannot work, but planning to do this in 9 months time seems problematic. Would your GP agree with you next September? If you are on sick leave you will get illness benefit and what salary you are paid depends on your employer rules. Your employer would probably send you to their company doctor to get an independent assessment of your ability to work or get a view of when you would be fit to return to work. So saying I will be fit to return to work in Sept 2026 might raise eyebrows too. Plus the independent assessments can lead to a lot if stress for people with mental health illness. Your income will probably dwindle as the year progresses.
 
I think the civil service would look favourably at an an application for a career break of 12 months for the reasons you present, especially if supported by a doctor’s recommendation that it would address a medical condition. It would of course be unpaid. You may however be permitted to seek alternative work which you tailor to suit your own needs and circumstances.

If you are medically unfit for work, you could of course provide certs and receive payment in accordance with the sick leave policy. This seems like the most appropriate option in your circumstances.

I wouldn’t recommend a shorter working year (by which I presume you mean a two or three day week). In my experience, you just end up trying to do a full week’s work in less time and for less money with additional consequential stress.
 
Clamball said:
The most straight forward is to take a 12 month leave of absence. Many companies get this request from staff for lots of different reasons and most are inclined to grant it due to the benefit of having a fully trained staff member back after 12 months. The issue for you is that you are without an income, but you could take on part time work during the year. And you should explore if you can avail of unemployment benefit.

Your second option of going on sick leave is a bit trickier. If your GP certifies you as being unable to work due to ill health then of course you cannot work, but planning to do this in 9 months time seems problematic. Would your GP agree with you next September? If you are on sick leave you will get illness benefit and what salary you are paid depends on your employer rules. Your employer would probably send you to their company doctor to get an independent assessment of your ability to work or get a view of when you would be fit to return to work. So saying I will be fit to return to work in Sept 2026 might raise eyebrows too. Plus the independent assessments can lead to a lot if stress for people with mental health illness. Your income will probably dwindle as the year progresses.
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I was dealing with the CMO for health related issues (referred by my Manager and HR) to get support from my work place. I prefer to take long term sick leave (1 yr) as I will get some financial support during this time.

If not, I think 1 Yr Career Break is my only option.
 
Think about a Career Break from 1st July to 30th June the following year. It might be your most tax efficient option. If you must, go for it, but I’d expend all my sick leave entitlement beforehand. Be careful when your Career Break expires.
 
If you’re medically unfit for work then by all means take advantage of the available sick leave.

You seem to think you’ll be on sick leave for a full year but you can’t really determine this at this stage nor will you receive a cert for that duration.

Perhaps take it a month or so at a time and see how you feel at different stages.
 
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