Medical cause for leaving work, are we eligible for benefits?

Hi everyone,

My Husband has recently been diagnosed as having epilepsy and the skill set that he is qualified in means that it is not safe for him to continue work (machine operated environment). He has worked for the same company for 15 years and we were under the (misguided) understanding that if he were unable to work that we would be entitled to Disability allowance for a period of time.

However, I have heard that this is means tested and my income will be assessed as a joint income mean test to determine what, if any, benefit we will be entitled to. I earn more than he does and I am afraid that due to this means test, he will try to keep working so as to support me and the children despite the doctor's recommendations to stop work immediately. He has not informed his employer yet.

I have read up via this site, revenue.ie and citizens information but cannot determine what the threshold is for this means test. We have no savings and no property other than our family home but I still cannot see a figure that we must be under for this benefit.

Any guidance or relevant websites would be really appreciated.

Thanks,

S

If your husband has been working and paying full rate PRSI, he will most likely be eligible for Illness Benefit, which is not means tested. This is payable for a max of 2 years.

After that, if he is unable to work again, he may qualify for Invalidity Pension. Qualification is based on medical criteria and PRSI contributions, and is not means-tested.

Check out www.welfare.ie and click on the link for "a person with a disability or illness", that will give you information on all of the schemes I've mentioned.

Hello

I hope skipper1 doesn't mind that I'm using this thread, but I thought it better rather than opening a new one.

We are going through a similar problem, due to a medical condition. However, there is a slight difference. My husband is an insulin-dependent diabetic (diagnosed mid-90s) and his work involves using his C1 licence, which had been issued pre-97. When he'd applied to renew his licence a few years ago, he was told that the C1 was subject to a medical examination every few years (which we weren't aware of). At the time he was told that the major concern was the hypo (low blood sugar), and the licence was then renewed. This time the HbA1c was on the high side, although everything else was very good, i.e. eyesight, nerve sensitivity, etc, and has never experienced a hypo since being diagnosed. As a result, though, he lost his C1 licence so cannot continue doing his job.

I have yet to speak to a CWO as I'm not sure if we should wait till he's been given his P45 first (he's been asked to use his leave during the notice period). Our query is that because he had a job but cannot continue because of the condition, rather than redundancy or fired, is he entitled to DA? We'd pass any means test, as I'd been seeking to return to work these past two years but only managed bits here and there so don't receive any SW payments myself. Am hoping to start a FAS course next month, but still no payment (as not receiving SW). Or will we just qualify for the dole, plus spouse allowance plus one child dependent? Or don't we have a leg to stand on?

We accept the fact, obviously, that the law's the law, but considering that he did have a job but cannot do it or use his experience (he'd been doing driving work since forever) and is now in his late-forties, are there any other supports? At least until he can find something else, or myself finding work? Hopefully I'd be qualified to do a particular line of work when the course finishes early next year. There are so many unemployed office workers that I've given up hope of ever going back to what I used to do.

Any advice/info would be much appreciated, and I am sorry for the long post.

AS Gipimann, has said, there is no means test involved in claiming Illness Benefit. The alternative scheme is Jobseeker's Benefit, which is not means tested either. Just because a person had to leave one job because of a medical condition does not rule them out from qualifying to get Jobseeker's Benefit if they are looking for work more suitable to their health.