Work Injury Benefits
Disability / Work Injury Benefit
Occupational injuries benefits are payable to insured people who are injured at work or who contract certain occupational diseases (56 occupational diseases have been prescribed in this regard). Accidents while travelling between home and work are covered. There are no specific qualifying conditions prescribed for accessing benefits in respect of accidents at work. However, a period of exposure to risk is prescribed for certain occupational diseases like deafness, tuberculosis and pneumoconiosis. The work injury benefits include Injury Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Incapacity Supplement, Medical Care and Death Benefits.
Injury Benefit is paid while you remain unfit for work. It is payable from the fourth day of incapacity up to a maximum period of 26 weeks (156 days) commencing with the date of the accident or the onset of the occupational disease. If you are still incapable of work after 26 weeks, you may be entitled to Illness Benefit.
Disablement benefit is payable if, as a result of an occupational accident or disease, worker is suffering from a loss of physical or mental ability, An Incapacity Supplement is payable to people who are in receipt of disablement Benefit, if they are considered to be permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident or disease, and who do not qualify for other social welfare payments such as Illness Benefit.
Payment is made under the disablement benefit when the level of disablement is assessed at 15% or more. When the level of disablement is assessed at less than 20%, the benefit is paid as a lump sum referred to as Disablement Gratuity. The size of this lump sum benefit depends on the degree of disablement and how long the worker is reasonably expected to remain disabled.
When the level of disablement is assessed at 20% or more, the benefit is paid by weekly or monthly pension also referred to as Disablement pension. Seriously disabled workers (more than 50% disablement) are also eligible for constant attendance allowance for a period of at least 06 months.
A worker with total permanent disability is paid weekly pension at the rate of €224. If a worker has 20-90% disablement, the personal pension varies from €44.80 to €201.60. The constant attendance allowance weekly rate is €210. The incapacity supplement is different for workers under 66 years of age (€193) and over 66 years (€212.30).
Death Benefits may be paid where an insured person dies as a result of an occupational accident or disease. It may also be payable to the dependent(s) of a person who, at the time of death, was receiving Disablement Pension assessed at 50% or more, regardless of the cause of death. Death Benefits comprise Widow’s/Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension, Orphan’s Pension, Dependent Parent’s Pensions and Funeral Grant. A widow, widower (disabled) or a surviving civil partner get €223.50 (under 66 years) or €242.70 (over 66 years) per week. A dependent’s supplement (€29.80) is also paid for each dependent child. Orphan’s pension is €179.80 a week for each child under the age of 18 years (22 years for full time students). Dependent parents also receive a pension. There is also a provision for once-off lump sum payment of funeral grant (€850).
Source:http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Death-Benefit.aspx; http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/disability_and_illness/disablement_benefit.html
