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Disabilities Entitlements
There is a wide range of equipment available to help you. You can save time and energy by using some simple adaptation or helpful piece of equipment, or by asking for help. You can find out about the range of equipment available and get more information and advice from:
- an occupational therapist who can look with you at the sort of difficulties you face and help you to work out new ways to manage them – if necessary with some kind of equipment or adaptation
- your local Citizens Information Centre can provide information, advice and advocacy on your entitlements and social services. Visit www.citizensinformation.ie or LoCall 1890 777 121
- you may be eligible for a Housing Adaptation Grant or Mobility Aids Grant, available from the housing department of your local authority
- there is equipment available to help with activities such as turning taps, opening tins, bottles, jars, cutting vegetables, bathing and dressing. Assist Ireland provides information on these. Visit www.assistireland.ie/eng/ or LoCall 1890 277 478
- Arthritis Ireland's Easy to Use Programme provides information and advice on practical, easy to use products and services that can make it easier for you to live day to day with your arthritis.
Arthritis can affect many different areas of your life including getting out and about, and even your work. However there is help available to enable you to live your life to the full as much as possible. There are a great many benefits available to people who are sick and/or disabled, and it is always worth checking that you are claiming all that you are entitled to.
■ Driving with arthritis
Being able to drive gives people with arthritis greater independence. Although driving may become more difficult, there are many adaptations or extras you can add to make it easier on yourself.
There are a few things you can try to make driving easier. An automatic gearbox and power steering will reduce strain. Minor adjustments, such as a padded steering wheel, a headrest, extra side-mirrors or a wide-angled mirror may make driving easier.
There are various means tested supports available through the HSE including grants for adapting a vehicle, the Disabled Person’s Parking Card and tax relief for necessary adaptations to vehicles. The Irish Wheelchair Association, www.iwa.ie and the Disabled Drivers Association, www.ddai.ie , provide advice and information on all aspects of motoring.
If relying on public transport you can apply for the Free Travel Pass, which allows you to travel for free on all public transports and selected private services.
Only you can decide how much you want to tell people at work about your arthritis. It may not affect your work at all – other than time off for hospital appointments or surgery – but hiding it and struggling on if you have difficulties could make your arthritis worse.
The best policy is to be positive, honest and clear about your needs, and help people understand what arthritis means for you.
Smarter ways of working will help protect your joints and conserve energy. They can include:
- organising your work – rearranging the work area, using computer equipment correctly, taking regular breaks, relaxing, pacing yourself and varying tasks
- flexibility – perhaps working a shorter day or fewer hours, or being based at home some of the time if that fits in with your job.
The following legislative acts protect your rights as an employee: the Employment Equality Act 1998, the Equality Act 2004, the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Disability Act 2005. The legislation states that an employer is obliged to take appropriate measures to enable a person who has a disability to have access to employment, to participate or advance in employment and to undertake training unless the measures would impose a disproportionate burden on the employer.
FÁS offers many schemes, job and training opportunities to help you find and retain work. Through FÁS you can access a wide range of supports for people with disabilities in employment; including adaptations grants, disability awareness training for your employer and grants to help you stay at work when you have become disabled while in employment. You can access FÁS services by visiting your local FÁS office, by calling the freephone telephone service on 1800 611 116 or by connecting to the FÁS web site www.fas.ie.
The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, www.inou.ie, has produced many booklets that are relevant to getting back to work. Their Working for Work booklet examines welfare, work, education and training options for unemployed people.
The Citizens Information Board offer a comprehensive booklet that outlines all entitlements for people with a disability, including rights relating to work, education and training. You can get this booklet, Entitlements for People with Disabilities, by visiting your local office or contacting them on LoCall 1890 777 121 or www.citizensinformation.ie.
You may be able to apply for state benefits to help with the extra costs of having arthritis or if you are unable to work. Some of the main disability-related payments are:
Social Insurance Payments
· Illness Benefit: Illness Benefit was previously called Disability Benefit. This is a short-term payment made to people who are unable to work due to illness. It can be paid in the long-term. To qualify you must be aged under 66 and unable to work because of illness. Your PRSI contributions or credits must be up to date.
· Invalidity Pension: Invalidity Pension is payable for as long as you are unable to work. At the age of 65, the personal rate of payment increases to the same rate as State Pension (Transition). At age 66 you transfer to the State Pension (Contributory). Other benefits: Living Alone Increase is payable regardless of age if you live alone. You may also qualify for free travel and the Household Benefits Package which includes allowances towards household bills. Rehabilitative work: You may be allowed to do rehabilitative or therapeutic work (maximum 20 hours a week) and retain your Invalidity Pension. You must get prior written approval from the Department of Social and Family Affairs before you start work.
· The Treatment Benefit Scheme: A scheme run by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that provides dental, optical and aural services to people with the required number of PRSI contributions.
Means-Tested Payments
· Disability Allowance: This is a long-term means-tested payment made to people with a disability. The disability must be expected to last at least a year. You may be entitled to Disability Allowance if you are aged between 16 and 66, satisfy both a means test and a habitual residence test, and have a specified disability which results in your being substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment. Your means and that of your spouse or partner are taken into account. Your parents' means are not considered. You may qualify for a Living Alone Increase and the Household Benefits Package, which includes allowances towards household bills.
If you are awarded Disability Allowance, you get a Free Travel Pass automatically. This allows you to travel for free and your spouse or partner to travel free in your company. If you are medically assessed as being unable to travel alone you may be entitled to a Companion Free Travel Pass
Health Service
· Medical Cards: Most medical cards are granted on the basis of a means test and/or medical need. Each case is decided on its merits but you may qualify if your income is not much above the guideline figure and your medical costs are exceptionally high. It may be possible for one or more members of a family (who would not otherwise qualify) to get a medical card in their own right if they have high medical expenses or needs.
· GP Visit Cards: The purpose of the card is to help people who are not eligible for medical cards with the costs of visiting a doctor. The card covers you for GP visits but nothing else. The income guidelines for the GP visit card are 50% higher than the medical card income guidelines.
· Drugs Payment Scheme: With a Drugs Payment Scheme (DPS) card, an individual or family in Ireland only has to pay a maximum amount monthly for approved prescribed drugs, medicines and certain appliances. As of January 2009, the maximum amount a family must pay is €100. Everyone in Ireland who doesn’t have a medical card should apply for the DPS card.
· Hospital Charges: Everyone resident in Ireland is entitled to be treated free of charge in a public bed in a public hospital. Some people may have to pay maintenance charges. Out-patient services, when you are referred by your GP, are also provided free of charge.
· Tax relief: You may get tax relief on certain health expenses, which you have incurred and for which you have not been reimbursed. The tax relief is at the standard rate of tax of 20%. So, if you spent €1,000 you would get a refund of €200. This claim should be made on a Med 1 form, available from your local tax office or online at www.revenue.ie.
Claiming benefits can be complicated and time-consuming, so it’s worth getting expert help and advice from:
- a social worker from your local Health Office
- a housing welfare officer from your local authority
- your citizens information service: Lo-Call 1890 777 121
- your local social welfare office
- the Leaflet Request Line in the Department of Social & Family Affairs: Lo-call 1890 20 23 25
- online at www.hse.ie.