Know Your Rights
Every month we put put four frequently asked questions. Select one below
Wednesday, 4th Mar 2009
Reduced income – help with medical expenses I am earning much less than I did last year but I don’t qualify for a medical card. Is there any other support I can get towards my family’s medical bills? Even though you cannot get a medical card, you and your family may qualify for a GP Visit Card, which entitles you to visit your family doctor for free. However, any prescribed drugs associated with...Wednesday, 4th Mar 2009
Reduced working week – financial supports My employer plans to reduce my working week. Is there any extra payment I can get towards supporting my family and paying my mortgage? If you are working a three-day week or less, you may qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit for the other days, provided you meet the other conditions. You must be under 66 years of age, be unemployed for...Wednesday, 10th Dec 2008
In the New Year I will start working part-time on a schedule that involves working one week on followed by one week off. A friend who job-shares has a similar schedule and was told that this could cause problems with his social insurance records because of the tax year. Can you explain why this is? Each year, the Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution week starts at the same time as the tax year on the 1st of January. This means that the PRSI contribution week can differ from the usual...Wednesday, 10th Dec 2008
My friend told me that she is receiving a higher social welfare payment because she lives alone. I also get a weekly social welfare payment and live on my own. Should I be getting extra because of this? There is an extra payment of €7.70 per week, called the Living Alone Increase, which is given to people on certain social welfare payments who are living alone. If you are under 66 you will qualify...I’m not sure that I have received all the right tax reliefs. Is it too late to benefit?
Wednesday, 10th Dec 2008
I’m not sure that I have received all the right tax reliefs. Is it too late to benefit? A range of tax reliefs may be claimed, depending on your circumstances. If you did not claim reliefs that you were entitled to in previous years, you may claim a refund of any overpayment. There is a...Wednesday, 10th Dec 2008
I have recently started getting a social welfare payment but I haven’t received a Christmas bonus payment. Do all social welfare recipients get a Christmas bonus? When should it be paid? The Christmas bonus is paid to people who are getting a long-term payment but doesn’t apply to all social welfare payments. Jobseeker’s Benefit and Illness Benefit, for example, are not considered...