If you are applying for Illness Benefit and getting full rate:
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner (Contributory) Pension,
- Deserted Wife’s Benefit , or
- One-Parent Family Payment,
you may get half the personal rate of Illness Benefit for up to 15 months or up to 12 months if you have less than 260 paid contributions. You cannot get an increase for (a) qualified child(ren). If you are getting a reduced rate of any of the above payments, you may get more than half the personal rate of Illness Benefit.
If you are getting Disablement Benefit you may also get Illness Benefit if you are ill and unfit for work and satisfy the PRSI conditions.
If you are getting Blind Pension, you may also get Illness Benefit if you are ill and incapable of work and you satisfy the PRSI conditions.
Special Arrangements for Carer’s Allowance
Since 27 September 2007, if you are getting Illness Benefit and you satisfy the conditions for Carer’s Allowance , you may get half the personal rate of Carer’s Allowance along with your Illness Benefit payment.
It may also be possible for you to receive an Increase for a Qualified Adult for someone on your Illness Benefit claim while they receive a half rate Carer’s Allowance for caring for you or someone else.
If you are applying for Illness Benefit and you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, you may be able to retain half your Carer’s payment while receiving Illness Benefit.
For more information, log on to www.welfare.ie.