To apply for Illness Benefit you should:
- go to a doctor and get a first social welfare medical certificate (known as MC 1), which includes an application form,
- complete this medical certificate and application form, giving the PPS No. and details of your spouse or partner. You should also where appropriate give PPS No. and details of any child(ren) you have.
- make sure you sign the declaration on the application form, and
- hand your certificate into your local Social Welfare Office or post it to:
Department of Social and Family Affairs
P.O. Box 1650
Dublin 1.
You should apply for Illness Benefit within 7 days of becoming ill. A delay of more than 7 days may cause you to lose some of your payment. If there is a good reason for a delay in applying, your payment may be backdated. For more information, log on to www.welfare.ie.
You must send in a medical certificate (known as MC 2) each week for as long as you are ill, unless you are told otherwise.
You must get a final medical certificate from your doctor before you go back to work.
Note
Your doctor should not charge you for a medical certificate if a medical examination has not taken place.
Army Pension or Allowance
If you have been discharged from the army due to illness, you may
claim Illness Benefit. You must send in your discharge papers with
your claim. An Army Pension does not affect your entitlement to
Illness Benefit.
Special provisions may apply if you are receiving a full pension or
allowance or if you marry after you are discharged from the Armed
Forces. You should tell us about any change in your situation.