Benefits and Entitlement
The State and many of its agencies assist with the financial cost of living with MS, both for the person with MS and the carer. The list of entitlements below is just a brief overview of some of the entitlements and benefits a person with MS/Carer may be entitled to. For a more comprehensive list of entitlements and information on how to receive the entitlement contact your local citizen information centre.
Please note: People with MS may be entitled to some of the following benefits - however many of these are means tested.
Payments for the Sick and those with Disabilities: Overview of Benefits to people who are sick or have a disability
Disability Allowance: is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability who are aged 16 or over & under age 66. Your disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to both a medical suitability and a means test.
Disability payments and work: you may be able to work and either keeps all or some of your disability payment.
Illness Benefit: (previously called Disability Benefit) – is a payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. You may qualify for Disability Benefit if you are unable to work due to illness, satisfy the PRSI conditions and are under age 66.
Disabled Person's Parking Card: (also known as European Parking Cards) are available to people living in Ireland with certain disabilities, whether they are drivers or passengers.
Disabled Person’s Grant: - In Ireland, housing grants are available for disabled people in situations where changes need to be made to a home to make it suitable for a person with a physical or intellectual disability or a mentally ill person.
Medical Cards/GP Visit Card: - To qualify for a medical card your weekly income must be below a certain figure for your family size
Motorised Transport Grant: This is a means tested Health Service Executive (HSE) payment for people in Ireland with disabilities who need to buy a car.
Mobility Allowance: is a means tested monthly payment payable by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland to people aged between 16 and 66 who have a disability and are unable to walk or use public transport and who would benefit from a change in surroundings; (for example, by financing the occasional taxi journey).
Occupational Injury Benefit: is a weekly payment made to employees in Ireland who are unfit for work as a result of an accident at work or because they have contracted a disease due to the type of work they do.
Treatment Benefit Scheme: The Treatment Benefit Scheme is a scheme run by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that provides dental, optical and aural services to people.
Payments for Carers
Overview of Benefits for Carers
Carer's Allowance: this is a payment to people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who is in need of support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness.
Carer’s Benefit: is a payment made to insured persons in Ireland who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
Half rate Carer’s Allowance: since 27 September 2007, half-rate Carer's Allowance is payable with certain other social welfare payments. Provided you meet the qualifying criteria. Find out how to qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance.
Respite Care Grant: is a cash payment made to carers by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in Ireland.
Other Entitlements
Back to Education Allowance: is aimed at assisting those who are unemployed, are single parents or have a disability, to pursue approved second-or third-level education courses.
Back to Education Programme: this programme can support you to take part in educational and personal development courses to help you to access employment.
Benefit and contribution years for social welfare purposes: to qualify for most social insurance payments in Ireland, you must first have a certain number of PRSI contributions paid since you started work. Find out which year's count as benefit and contribution years for social welfare purposes.
Benefits and entitlements following a death: an overview of the different social welfare benefits available when someone dies.
Blind Pension: is a means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people normally living in Ireland. Find out more about this social welfare payment and how to apply.
Blind Welfare Allowance: is a means tested supplementary payment in Ireland made to certain people who are blind or visually impaired.
Claiming an extra half rate social welfare payment: it is only possible to claim one social welfare assistance or insurance based payment at a time. However, in certain circumstances you may qualify for your social welfare payment and half of another social insurance payment.
Day centres and day care: Day centres and day care centres in Ireland provide a range of social and rehabilitative services for older people and people with disabilities.
Facilities for Voters with Disabilities: procedures are in place nationally, that help disabled people in Ireland to vote.
Fuel Allowance: Ireland's National Fuel Scheme provides an allowance to low-income households in Ireland that are unable to meet their heating needs.
Household Benefit Package: This document describes the Household Benefits Package, which incorporates the Electricity Allowance, Natural Gas Allowance, Electricity (Group Account) Allowance, Bottled Gas Refill Allowance, Telephone Allowance and the Free Television Licence.
Travel Allowance: Everyone aged 66 and over living permanently in Ireland is entitled to travel free of charge on public transport.
