Medical Card (should we apply)

[Cobra]

Hi,
Would we be entitled to a medical card or GP visit card.
Wife aged over 66. Husband aged 64
Wife claiming pension and claiming for me as dependent.
Small bit of savings.
No other income.
Should we apply?

 

[pudds]

Yes definitely apply.

All capital (savings and investments) is taken into account for medical card purposes. However, income from savings, investments or property of €36,000 for a single person or €72,000 for a couple is disregarded.
The disregard figure only applies once where both savings and property are being assessed. The value of your family home is not assessed.
For amounts above the disregard limits, a notional assessment of interest applies.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/medical_card.html

 

[Cobra]

Yes definitely

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/health/entitlement_to_health_services/medical_card.html

Thanks pudds, don't think i will get it, as we need to be in poverty in order to qualify after reading up on it. will have to wait till 70 and then try if they have not reduced it so far that we still won't qualify

 

[Grizzly]

I see the words "income" from savings is used. So you can have largish savings so long as the "income" from them is below the figures mentioned. Are social welfare payments included in the income figure?

 

[gipimann]

If there are savings over the disregard limits, there is a notional assessment of income (outlined in the link that pudds posted) for the savings.

That savings "income" is added to any other income (inc SW payments) to decide on medical card eligibility.