I have read through the links on the entitlements to a medical card but I am still as confused as ever. I am trying to find out if the following scenario of income and means would allow a person to have a medical card. The couple in question believe that they are not entitled to one.
He is 60 years old and his wife is 59. They are both on illness benefit but no other income other than interest income. This interest income is made up of circa €300k on deposit at circa 3% to 4%. (An Post Bonds plus KBC bank) This gives them a further income after DIRT of between €6k and €9k as An Post is DIRT free. (As this is paid at the end of a 3 year term the interest is not annual)
So total income for the two of about €25k per annum between the two of them allowing for the fact that they don't always get the interest annually.
These people believe that because they have savings that they should not be drawing on the state and are drawing on their savings year after year to pay bills. My concern is that their savings are being eroded and when they get to an older age there will be little savings left especially if either had to go in to a home or got sick.
I have read on various links that it is the income from savings that is taken in to consideration and not the capital. Then I read elsewhere that if an individual has more than €36k then €1 per €10k or €2 per €20k of savings is deducted from payments etc. Has this anything to do with medical cards or is this to do with means testing for Social Wefare entitlements?
I would love if someone had a look at the above figures and just advised me rather than posting a link to a website as I cannot understand what it says.
These people are careful people living as best as they can within their means. Both in relatively good health. No mortgage but paying a hefty chunk of their savings to the VHI and other bills. These savings were built up over a lifetime.
He is 60 years old and his wife is 59. They are both on illness benefit but no other income other than interest income. This interest income is made up of circa €300k on deposit at circa 3% to 4%. (An Post Bonds plus KBC bank) This gives them a further income after DIRT of between €6k and €9k as An Post is DIRT free. (As this is paid at the end of a 3 year term the interest is not annual)
So total income for the two of about €25k per annum between the two of them allowing for the fact that they don't always get the interest annually.
These people believe that because they have savings that they should not be drawing on the state and are drawing on their savings year after year to pay bills. My concern is that their savings are being eroded and when they get to an older age there will be little savings left especially if either had to go in to a home or got sick.
I have read on various links that it is the income from savings that is taken in to consideration and not the capital. Then I read elsewhere that if an individual has more than €36k then €1 per €10k or €2 per €20k of savings is deducted from payments etc. Has this anything to do with medical cards or is this to do with means testing for Social Wefare entitlements?
I would love if someone had a look at the above figures and just advised me rather than posting a link to a website as I cannot understand what it says.
These people are careful people living as best as they can within their means. Both in relatively good health. No mortgage but paying a hefty chunk of their savings to the VHI and other bills. These savings were built up over a lifetime.