SW Entitlements?

D

Dublander

Registered User
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My Dad had a minor stroke recently and is thinking of giving up his job due to it. He is 56 and only started the job in January as made redundant from another position.

I know he can claim social welfare for 15 months, but would he be enititled to a medical card or any other assistance with medicine etc he has to get? I know the medical card now is means tested and he got a redundnacy package sp prob would not elligible for it, but if unemployed can he still claim money back using the Med1 form?
 
If hes not fit to work his doctor would sign him off on disability allowance and then after a few months he can claim disability benefit (or the other way round, not sure) and then hes sorted for life. Standard payment about 230 and then increase for dependant adult if applicable. Medical card, free travel, free telephone rental and free electric units all included. Worth him checking it out. He obviously does not feel fit enough to carry on working after a stroke. And right too, hes 56 and wants to make sure hes minds himself. Good Luck.
 
Illness Benefit may be payable for 2 years, depending on PRSI contributions. After that, if he is unable to return to work, he may be eligible for Invalidity Pension, which again is based on PRSI contributions and not means-tested (so the redundancy won't affect it).

If he's not eligible for Invalidity Pension, he can apply for Disability Allowance, which is means tested, but has a high value disregard (the first 50k of savings isn't counted) so don't let the means test put him off.

All of these will require medical certification of course too.

He should apply for a medical card even with the redundancy payment - all they can say is no.

Check out www.welfare.ie for information on all of the schemes mentioned.
 

Your dad may be entitled to Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension. In relation to the GMS, there are two types the full GMS (doctors fees, meds, hospitals etc) and the GP only visit card. Like you say, both are meanstested. However, the CWO can apply discretion if there are extraodinary medical circumstances like long term illness etc. Just detail on the form all visits to gp, hospitalisations, medications, charges etc, mobility issues, paid carers, home-helps, and all other outgoings in respect to managing his stroke. A letter from the consultant or his GP might also be helpful to submit along with the application - these consultants are generally very helpful. Good luck.
 
if on illness benefit or invalidity pension - he is still liable for tax on his total income and if his total income brings him over his threshold for paying tax - he'd be entitled to reclaim med expenses through med1.
 
If he feels unable for work he should first go to his doctor who will decide whether he should be at work or not.
If the doctor decides he is unfit for work (even temporarly) he will give him a cert. for Illnes benefit. Your dad should fill out his part of the application form and drop it in to his local SW. office
He should also obtain a doctors note which is given to his employer each week (to keep the employer informed)
If the doctor feels he will not be returning to full time work he should apply for Invalidity Pension after 1 year
 
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