Re: Disability benefit
I'm confused!! Are we talking about Invalidity Pension or Disability Benefit?
You do not need 260 PRSI contributions to qualify for Disabilty Benefit.
'A person must have
- * 52 weeks PRSI paid at the appropriate class since s/he first entered insurable employment
and
- * 39 weeks PRSI paid or credited at the appropriate class in the 'governing contribution year'
* 13 paid PRSI contributions at the appropriate rate in one of the following years:
- the 'governing contribution year'
- in either of the 2nd or 3rd last complete tax years
- the last complete tax year
- the current tax year.
or
- 26 weeks PRSI paid at the appropriate class in the 'governing contribution year' and 26 weeks PRSI paid at the appropriate class in the tax year immediately before the 'governing contribution year'.
PRSI contributions paid at Class A, E, H and P only count for the purpose of the above conditions.'
This is taken from here
http://www.welfare.ie/foi/disben.html
But a person needs 260 PRSI contributions for payment of Disability Benenfit to continue for more than 52 weeks.
'Duration of Payment
Continuous Duration:
A person who has paid at least 260 reckonable PRSI contributions entitled to Disability Benefit for as long as s/he is incapable of work up to age 66. Persons who were in receipt of Disability Benefit on 4 July 1988 (when the figure of 260 was increased from 208) are entitled to 'continuous Disability Benefit' if their claim forms part of a period of incapacity for work which commenced before 4 July 1988
*.
*An example would be a person whose previous Disability Benefit claim commenced before 4 July 1988 and then transferred to Invalidity Pension. S/he subsequently transfers to Widow's/Widower's Contributory Pension and claims half the personal rate of Disability Benefit for 15 months. As the later claim is in the same period of incapacity which started before 4 July 1988, the person is entitled to payment for this further payment.
Limited Duration:
If a person has between 39 and 259 weeks PRSI paid, Disability Benefit (whether at full, reduced or special rate) can be paid for up to a maximum of 52 weeks (312 days) in any Period of Interruption of Employment. At the end of this period the person needs 13 weeks PRSI contributions paid to requalify for benefit (or a smaller number if it brings his/her total to 260). Any days for which a person is disqualified from receiving Disability Benefit are counted in calculating whether s/he has received Disability Benefit for a period of 312 days.'
Hope this clarifies