Oral Hearing for Illness Benefit being discontinued.

[belinda45]

I wonder if anyone knows if there is any point in attending an oral hearing for Illness Benefit being discontinued?

I was on illness benefit for 5 years for back pain, spent every penny almost of the illness benefit payments on therapies which worked in the short term only, and attended Medical Assessment to be told I was fit for full time work. I am not going into the whole back pain business cos it would take too long but suffice to say it has ruined my life!!!

Second Medical Assessment states fit for full time work only in a different capacity!! I have an occult spina bifida, degenerated discs with slight bulging and fluid loss.

Attended Monday for Oral Hearing but feel while the man was polite, I think it was a waste of time too!! anyone have a good outcome from these hearings?

 

[Guest105]

If you have been on Illness Benefit for 5 years and you are still unfit for work then you should be able to continue receiving it or maybe the oral hearing might be to assess you for invalidity benefit.


If you have 260 weeks PRSI paid since you first began work, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit for as long as you are unfit for work and you are under 66. Since January 2009, if you have 260 or more PRSI contributions you can get Illness Benefit for a maximum of 2 years. This change will not affect people getting Illness Benefit before this date.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/e...isability_and_illness/disability_benefit.html