Social Welfare Medical Card
If you have a medical card issued by the Health Service Executive (HSE), you can receive certain health services free of charge. Normally, your dependent spouse or partner and your children are also covered for the same range of health services. Anyone who is ‘ordinarily resident’ in Ireland can apply for a medical card. This means that you are living in Ireland and intend to live here for at least one year. To qualify for a medical card, your weekly income must be below a certain figure for your family size. Cash income, savings, investments and property (except for your own home) are taken into account in the means test. If you do not qualify for a medical card on income grounds, you may qualify for a GP visit card. Child Benefit Child Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age, or under 18 years of age if the child is in full-time education or has a disability. One-Parent Family Payment One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for men and women who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. The One-Parent Family Payment is only paid to parents of children under the age of 7 years old. Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment Most people who no longer qualify for a One-Parent Family Payment because their youngest child is aged 7 will transfer to the Jobseeker’s Transitional payment (called JST). JST is paid to people who are not cohabiting and whose youngest child is aged between 7 and 13. It aims to support you into the workforce while also acknowledging that you are caring for young children. You can take part in a course of education and get JST. Working Family Payment Working Family Payment is a weekly tax-free payment to people on low pay. You must have at least one child to qualify and your average weekly family income must be under a certain amount for your family size. The WFP payment you get is 60% of the difference between your average weekly family income and the WFP income limit for your family size. Additional Needs Payment
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator