Invalidity Pension
Information
Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability and are covered by social insurance (PRSI). At age 65, the rate of payment increases to the same rate as State Pension (Transition). At 66, you transfer to State Pension (Contributory).
Invalidity Pension is taxable. You are entitled to a Free Travel Pass. You may also get extra social welfare benefits, for example, the Household Benefits Package.
Rules
Social insurance contributions
To get Invalidity Pension you must have at least:
- 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance
- 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the date of your claim
Note that only PRSI paid in classes A, E and H count. The last complete tax year is the year before your claim. For example, if you claim Invalidity Pension in 2013, the last complete tax year is 2012.
Medical criteria
Invalidity Pension is a payment for insured people who are permanently incapable of work because of an illness or incapacity. A doctor employed by the Department of Social Protection decides whether you are medically unfit for work and qualify on medical grounds for Invalidity Pension.
To qualify you must:
- Have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you will probably have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time)
Or
- Be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, you can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from your job to Invalidity Pension).
Invalidity Pension and work
From 13 February 2012, Partial Capacity Benefit replaces the previous exemption arrangements where people on Invalidity Pension could get permission to work part-time (known as an exemption) for rehabilitative or therapeutic purposes and keep their full social welfare payment.
Those who currently have this permission will not be affected until their permission comes up for review. At that stage, the exemption will no longer be available to them but they have the option of applying for Partial Capacity Benefit. There is no requirement that the work a person does while on Partial Capacity Benefit has to be for rehabilitative or therapeutic purposes.
Training and employment schemes
If you are on Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and want to do a FÁS training course, you do not go onto Partial Capacity Benefit. You apply to the Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension section, as appropriate. You may get the training allowance as well as your normal social welfare payment.
If you want to do a Community Employment scheme you apply in the normal way.
Rates
Rate of Invalidity Pension in 2013
| Invalidity Pension | Weekly rate, € |
| Aged under 65 | 193.50 |
| Aged 65 | 230.30 |
| Qualified adult under 66 | 138.10 |
| Qualified adult over 66 | 206.30 |
| Qualified child | 29.80 (full-rate) 14.90 (half-rate) |
You may get an increase in your payment for an adult dependant and any child dependants you may have. From 5 July 2012, you can no longer claim an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) with your Invalidity Pension if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant has an income of over €400 a week. You get a half-rate IQC if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant earns between €310 and €400 a week. This only applies to new claims after 5 July 2012.
Tax implications
Invalidity Pension is a taxable source of income and should be reported to your tax office as soon as your payment starts. You can contact the Revenue Commissioners for more information.
How to apply
To apply fill in an Invalidity Pension application form (pdf). You can also get a form from your Social Welfare Local Office. There are currently some delays in processing Invalidity Pension payments and it may take some time for your application to be processed. You may qualify for Supplementary Welfare Allowance while you are waiting for your claim to be processed.
You can get help to fill in your form from your local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Local Office.
If you think you have been wrongly refused Invalidity Pension or you are unhappy about a decision of a Social Welfare Deciding Officer about your entitlements, you can appeal this decision.
Where to apply
Invalidity Pension Section
Social Welfare Services Office
Government Buildings
Ballinalee Road
Longford
Ireland
Tel:(043) 334 0000
Locall:1890 92 77 70
Language
Related Documents
- Partial Capacity Benefit
Partial Capacity Benefit is a scheme to support people on Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension who want to return to work. - Illness Benefit
Information about Illness Benefit, a payment made to people under 66 who are unable to work because of illness. - Disability payments and work
You may be able to work and either keep all or some of your disability payment. Find out how rehabilitative work can affect your disability payment and any secondary benefits you are getting.
Contact Us
If you have a question relating to this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm) or you can visit your local Citizens Information Centre.