Information
Injury Benefit
Injury Benefit is one of the benefits available under the Occupational Injuries
Benefit Scheme. It is a weekly payment made to you if you are unfit for
work due to:
- An accident at work
- An accident while travelling (on an unbroken journey) directly to or from
work
- An occupational disease.
An occupational disease is a disease that you contract in the course of your
employment or due to the work you do, for example, from contact with physical
or chemical agents. The Department of Social Protection has a list
of Prescribed Occupational Diseases.
To get Injury Benefit you must be unfit for work for more than 3 days as a
result of the accident or disease (excluding Sundays or paid holiday leave).
However, even if you are not unfit for work for more than 3 days you are
entitled to a declaration that an occupational accident occurred. This
safeguards your future rights to benefits under the Occupational Injuries
Benefit Scheme (as not all work accidents and diseases result immediately in
illness or disablement).
Injury
Benefit is taxable but you are unlikely to pay tax if it is your only
income.
Rules
Social insurance (PRSI) contributions
People covered by PRSI
Class A, D, J or M are covered in full for Injury Benefit. This means that
almost all employees in Ireland are insured for Injury Benefit.
You do not have to be insured under Class A, D, J or M for any particular
length of time to qualify for Injury Benefit. You will qualify if you are unfit
for work because of an accident at work or an occupational disease. Your
illness or incapacity must last for more than 3 days (excluding Sundays or paid
holiday leave).
How long is Injury Benefit paid?
Injury Benefit is not paid for the first 3 days of your illness or
incapacity. Payment can be made for up to 26 weeks starting from the date of
your accident or development of the disease.
If you are still unable to work after 26 weeks, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance
or Supplementary
Welfare Allowance. You may also be entitled to Disablement Benefit if you suffer a
loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of the accident or disease.
Alternatively, if you do not qualify for Illness Benefit or another social
welfare payment and you are getting Disablement Benefit, you may be eligible
for Incapacity Supplement.
Rehabilitative work
You may take part in training
or part-time work which is rehabilitiative and get Injury Benefit. You
cannot work for more than 20 hours per week. You must get
permission from the Occupational Injuries Benefit Section (see 'Where to apply'
below) before you start rehabilitative work or training.
It should be noted that exemptions allowing a person to work are not
normally granted within the first 26 weeks of Injury Benefit. However, at the
end of your Injury Benefit, if you qualify for either Illness Benefit or
Incapacity Supplement with Disablement Benefit, a exemption to work may be
granted at that stage.
Rates
Rate of Injury Benefit in 2012:
| Injury Benefit |
Weekly rate 2012 |
| Personal rate |
€188 |
| Increase for a Qualified Adult |
€124.80 |
| Increase for a Qualified Child |
€29.80 (full rate) €14.90 (half rate) |
You may get an increase in your payment for an adult
dependant and dependant
children.
How to apply
You should apply for Injury Benefit within 21 days of becoming
ill, otherwise you may lose benefit.
To apply for Injury Benefit, you should visit a doctor and get a First
Social Welfare Medical Certificate. The First Social Welfare Medical
Certificate is both an application form and medical certificate for Injury
Benefit. Send it to the Injury Benefit Section - see 'Where to apply' below.
You should forward an Intermediate Medical Certificate each week for as long
as you are unfit for work. You can get an Intermediate Medical Certificate from
your doctor.
Where to apply
You can hand your First Social Welfare Certificate and Intermediate Medical
Certificates into your Social Welfare Local Office or post it to:
Injury Benefit Section
Department of Social Protection
PO Box 1650
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel:(01) 704 3018
For more information contact your Social Welfare Local Office or the
Occupational Injuries Benefit Section:
Occupational Injuries Benefit Section
Department of Social Protection
Áras Mhic Dhiarmada
Store Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel:(01) 704 3018