This chapter tells you what you need to know in order to claim benefits in Ireland if you are too sick or ill to work. Illness Benefit is not linked to employers’ policies on pay and sick leave - they can decide their own policies on these subjects.

If you have lived, worked and/or paid insurance in another EU country, your time living in another EU country, the period you have worked or the contributions you have paid may be taken into account when your benefits are calculated in Ireland.

In what situation can I claim?

If you are too sick or ill to do your job and if you are under pension age, currently 66, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit.

What conditions do I need to meet?

The benefit is paid to people who have contributed the required number of Pay Related Social Insurance contributions (PRSI) at the appropriate Class.

You must have:

• At least 104 weeks of paid PRSI contributions at Class A, E, H or P, since you first started work; and
• 39 weeks of PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year of which 13 must be paid contributions. If you do not have 13 paid contributions in the relevant tax year, then 13 paid contributions in one of the following tax years can be used instead:

• Either of the two tax years before the relevant tax year
• The last complete tax year (before the year in which your claim for Illness Benefit begins)
• The current tax year

or,

• 26 weeks of PRSI paid in the relevant tax year and 26 weeks paid in the year before.

What am I entitled to and how can I claim?

The length of time you can receive payment depends on the number of PRSI contributions you have made.

• 260 weeks of PRSI paid since you first started work means you can claim Illness Benefit for a maximum of 2 years (624 payment days).
• Between 104 and 259 weeks PRSI paid means you can claim up to 52 weeks (312 payment days).

No payment is made for the first 3  days or for any Sunday.   The rates reflect your average weekly earnings in a relevant tax year. (See: What is a benefit year and what is the relevant tax year?)

Weekly Payments from January 2023

Illness Benefit is taxable (excluding the increase for child dependants).

The Illness Benefit claim form and medical certificates (IB1 and Certificate of Incapacity for Work) are available from doctors who are on the Department's panel of medical certifiers. Doctors may submit the Certificate of Incapacity for Work electronically.  The IB1 claim form is also available from your Intreo Centre, Social Welfare Branch Office. It is not available online. However, you can make a claim for Illness Benefit online using the Department’s MyWelfare portal

You should apply for Illness Benefit within 6 weeks of becoming ill. If you do not apply within this time, you may lose some of your payment. If there is a good reason for a delay in applying, your payment may be backdated. If you wish to make a backdated claim for Illness Benefit, you need to complete part 3 of the IB1 claim form.

If you are in Ireland but have worked in an EU country, EEA countries or Switzerland you may combine your contributions (See: Know Your Rights).

If you are in a country covered by EU Regulations, as a general rule, benefits that are intended to replace an income someone can no longer earn due to sickness, illness or accident are always paid according to the laws of the country from which the benefits are claimed.

You may continue to get Illness Benefit if you go to live in another country covered by EU Regulations but you must tell the Department of Social Protection in advance (otherwise you may lose payment or your payment may be delayed).

If you go to live in another country covered by EU Regulations and become ill, you may apply for Illness Benefit from Ireland if you paid your last insurance contribution in Ireland or you were getting Jobseeker’s Benefit in Ireland before you went abroad.

When your Illness Benefit runs out you could be able to claim:

• Invalidity Pension if you are permanently incapable of work.
• Disability Allowance if you have a disability that is expected to last a year. This payment is means-tested and subject to the Habitual Residence Condition.
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance if you do not qualify for anything else and your income is too low to meet your needs and you are considered to be habitually resident in Ireland.
• State Pension if your Illness Benefit is ending because you are turning 66 - you should apply 3 months before your 66th birthday.

Jargon busters

• A qualified adult/child is a dependant for whom you may get an extra amount, paid as an increase to your personal payment.

PRSI stands for Pay Related Social Insurance - the money your employer deducts directly from your wages. To claim a contributory benefit you need to have clocked up the relevant number of contributions. What is a benefit year and what is the relevant tax year?
The year in which a benefit is claimed is called the benefit year, it starts on the first Monday in January each year.
The relevant tax year is usually 2 years before the benefit year, so for claims in 2023 the relevant tax year is 2021.

Forms you may need to fill in

Benefit claim form (IB1) and Intermediate Certificates (Certificate of Incapacity for Work) are not available on-line.

IB1 forms are only available from your doctor, INTREO Offices, DSP Branch Offices.

Alternatively, you can make a claim for Illness Benefit online using the Department’s MyWelfare portal

Certificate of Incapacity for Work forms are issued only by Doctors in Ireland.

Know your rights

If your application for a benefit is refused you can appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office

Commission publication and website:

• http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/work/unemployment-and-benefits/index_en.htm

Who do you need to contact?

Find your nearest Intreo Office  here

Irish Tax and Customs

Illness Benefit
Department of Social Protection
P.O. Box 1650
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel: (01) 704 3300

Tel: +353 1 704 3300 if calling from outside the Republic of Ireland
LoCall: 0818 928 400
www.gov.ie
Email using  illnessbenefit@welfare.ie