Invalidity Pension Contributions

J

JD2021

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Hi All,

Apologies if this has been asked before. I am 55, have a number of health challenges, involving a number of specialists. My GP feels I should apply for either disability allowance or perhaps Invalidity pension. I have worked most of my life , albeit partly abroad. I have a contributions statement and can't work out what contributions count towards an invalidity pension. I have some credited contributions. I am currently participating in a CE scheme ,local to me, its an admin roll, light duties etc, I choose it, primarily to keep as active as possible. I don't believe I am restricted for applying for DA or IP whilst on this scheme but if approved may have to come off it and re apply.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated , I do have fuel allowance but obviously can not qualify for other allowances whist on a CE scheme, I have the long term illness card and full medical card thankfully. I live alone also.

Thanks in advance of any responses.
 
Why not just apply for the relevant payment(s) - via myWelfare online if possible - and see what happens? Or just visit your local Intreo office and have a chat with them? They're very helpful and there to assist you with claiming anything to which you are entitled.
 
Thanks, yes might try that, I just wanted to get a sense of contributions required before starting an application process
 

Disability Allowance

A weekly payment to people that have an injury, illness or disability which is expected to last more than a year. Find out how to qualify and rates of payment.
www.citizensinformation.ie www.citizensinformation.ie

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is paid to people with a disability. You can get it from 16. The maximum weekly rate is €208. From January 2023 it will increase to €220. You can work and receive a reduced rate.
www.gov.ie www.gov.ie

Invalidity Pension

Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment that may be paid to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability.
www.citizensinformation.ie www.citizensinformation.ie

Invalidity Pension

Invalidity Pension is paid to people covered by social insurance who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability. From January 2023 the maximum weekly rate increases by €12 to €225.50.
www.gov.ie www.gov.ie

Disability and illness payments

www.citizensinformation.ie www.citizensinformation.ie

The thing about talking directly to SW is that they will have a better ability to advise you on all of the schemes/payments to which you are entitled even if they are not the two specific ones that you mention here.
 
Last edited:
JD2021 said:
Hi All,

Apologies if this has been asked before. I am 55, have a number of health challenges, involving a number of specialists. My GP feels I should apply for either disability allowance or perhaps Invalidity pension. I have worked most of my life , albeit partly abroad. I have a contributions statement and can't work out what contributions count towards an invalidity pension. I have some credited contributions. I am currently participating in a CE scheme ,local to me, its an admin roll, light duties etc, I choose it, primarily to keep as active as possible. I don't believe I am restricted for applying for DA or IP whilst on this scheme but if approved may have to come off it and re apply.

Any advice would be sincerely appreciated , I do have fuel allowance but obviously can not qualify for other allowances whist on a CE scheme, I have the long term illness card and full medical card thankfully. I live alone also.

Thanks in advance of any responses.
Click to expand...


The two important columns on your contributions statement are the two on the right hand side where the word RECKONABLE appears.

Add them up and let us know the totals.
 
Morning Groucho, ok I totted both up , keep in mind I was working abroad for a number of years and also ill. So Totals up to an including 2021

Reckonable paid Contributions 1327
Rekkonable Credited Contributions 291
Total 1618

Thanks again :)
 
JD2021 said:
Morning Groucho, ok I totted both up , keep in mind I was working abroad for a number of years and also ill. So Totals up to an including 2021

Reckonable paid Contributions 1327
Rekkonable Credited Contributions 291
Total 1618

Thanks again :)
Click to expand...

Thanks.

The first thing to say is that Disability ALLOWANCE, like all Social Welfare ALLOWANCE payments, is means tested.

So - as well as meeting the medical criteria (that you are substantially restricted because of your disability from doing work that would be suitable for a person of your age, experience and qualifications) - you will also need to undergo the DA means test, the details of which can be found here.

If you reckon that you will pass the Means Test then you could certainly apply for DA. And you could continue to work although this would reduce the amount of DA that you would receive if you earn more than €140 a week on the CE scheme.

The max rate of DA is €208 a week. (2022 figure)

*************************************************************************************************************************************************

The Invalidity Pension (IP) (max value €213.50 a week, 2020 figure) is based on your PRSI contribution and there are two key criteria:-

To get Invalidity Pension you must meet the medical condition that you ......
  • Have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time)
- and have at least:
  • 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (which you have) and
  • you must have 48 weeks of paid or credited PRSI contributions in the last or second last completed year before the start date of your permanent incapacity for work.
The problem for you is that you have been and are working (on the CE scheme) and don't appear to have been claiming Illness Benefit. This probably makes you ineligible for the Invalidity Pension.

So the best route for you to take in order to become eligible for an Invalidity Pension is probably to stop working completely (either immediately or when your condition deteriorates) then apply for Illness Benefit (on the basis of your PRSI contributions) and, when this payment comes to an end (after a maximum of 2 years), apply for the IP - or,
if you want to remain working - then there is a payment called Partial Capacity Benefit which would allow you to return to work and still receive a SW payment. Details here, but it's not a scheme that I am familiar with.

*********************************************************************************************************​

 
Thanks for detailed response. I can see now the challenge I'll have by doing the CE scheme oddly enough & despite a desire to keep active by doing the CE scheme, I've made applying for DA or IP more difficult, albeit I've just started the CE scheme. I spotted on an operational guide book for CE schemes ,participants are disqualified from disability allowance but oddly a person on DA can choose to do a CE scheme which seems very contradictory.

My added dilemma is I've been awarded fuel allowance prior to starting the CE scheme and if I come off it and onto Illness benefit, I'll loose the Fuel Allowance.

Much to digest but it looks like I may have to come off the CE scheme in the new year, go on illness benefit initially & go from there.

One final question if I may. CE schemes are technically paid employment & whilst funded by DSP, it is employment rather than a SW payment. I always thought some folks applying for IP do so while in work ,knowing they may need to give up that work ,it would again seem contradictory if a person on a CE scheme was being penalised ,albeit I get the DSP funding aspect of CE schemes.
 
Think carefully before applying for a means tested payment if there is a suitable non means tested payment available to you
 
Morning & Happy new year.

I got some information from Citizens information who in turn got it directly from DSP. But I've since discovered quite a contradiction. In essence, whilst DSP say just apply for DA, the opperational Manual for CE schemes essentially says a person is disqualified from DA if on a CE scheme & yet can actually go on a CE scheme if on DA.

It would appear that a person would have to leave a CE scheme, lose any allowance (Fuel) they had, apply for illness benefit & commence the long process of applying for DA & or maybe IP which seems very odd. I'm not concerned about having enough medical evidence etc, just the fact I'd have to give up the CE scheme (Admin) lose entitlements etc. Am I reading this correctly, apologies for the long post.

From the CE operational manual /Guidelines.

Note 3: • Any person who started on a Community Employment scheme on or after 16 January 2012 is disqualified from receiving Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension. When a person qualifies for CE by virtue of this pension, the pension is stopped for the duration of their CE participation, and it can recommence when they leave CE. Their CE rate will be based on the rate they currently receive on the Survivors Pension plus €22.50. • Any person who started on CE on or after 16 January 2012 is disqualified from receiving Disability Allowance

Thank you..
 
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