illness benefit - income continuance query.

Gia K

I have inflammatory arthritis RA. I have had an ankle operation in Oct and am on illness benefit of €188, which my employers deduct from my salary. The thing is that a lot of my joints are damaged now, including both ankles, knees and wrists, so I don't feel able to keep working, I also have terrible fatigue and am on High Tech meds. My job will only pay me until March less IB, after that I have to apply for PIB which is part of my priv pension plan, i am so confused, and am spending my time form filling for medical cards, weekly certs for work & illness benefit, also applied for disabled sticker. I heard I am entitled to 2/3 of salary on this income continuance policy I have paid for thirty years. Is that 2/3 of gross pay?, and can I continue to get state illness benefit as well. I asked my HR to send me details but nothing so far has come. My Specialists & docs will support me not working as i am such a crock, so no worries there. I just have a funny feeling that The PIB people will make it very hard to claim.
Does anyone know anything about this situation?. Any advice welcome.

cee_jay

Moving post to Banking & Insurance & Pensions from State Benefits, as its a query re: income continuance rather than Illness Benefit

Kennie1

Usually PHI aka income continuance will pay upto 3/4 salary of gross salary inc social walfare illness benefits. Your scheme may well be only 2/3 of gross salary though. Reason it only covers upto 3/4 salary is that there has to be an incentive for a person to return to work. The benefits are subject to tax, USC and PRSI. When you take out a policy like this you set out a deferral period where you are not covered for a period of either 13/26/52 weeks. As your employer is paying you for the first 26 weeks I would expect that the PHI would kick in after this. Have you contacted your PHI provider and let them know that you expect to be making a claim in March? IF not contact them first thing Monday.

The PHI provider will usually ask you to attend their own doctor to access whether you are fit for work or not. IF by chance that their doctor or medical consultant says that you are fit for work in the future and you or your own GP thinks that you are not, you have the right to appel and submit further medical evidence to back up your claim.

Dont understand what you mean by "PIB" perhaps you mean PHI or income continuance.

nohow

Inform your insurance company as you say you have a private pension plan,you will recieve a claim form with sections to be completed by your doc and specialist.You will know what defered period you choose at the time you started the plan.the sooner you start the process the better.