an employee
The Department has a range of schemes that will help you in meeting your needs while employed.
Treatment Benefit
Treatment Benefit is a scheme that may allow you to qualify for:
You may also receive Treatment Benefit for treatment carried out in other EU member states. To qualify for Treatment Benefit you must satisfy the PRSI conditions.
Family Income Supplement
Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly payment for families, including one parent families, at work on low pay. It is not subject to income tax and does not affect whether you can get a medical card. In order to qualify for Family Income Supplement, either you or your spouse must be engaged in insurable employment.
Illness Benefit
Illness Benefit is a payment for insured people who cannot work due to illness. You may qualify for Illness Benefit if you are unable to work due to illness, satisfy the Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) conditions, and are under age 66. The personal rate is not means-tested or affected by other income you may have such as an occupational pension.
Injury Benefit
Injury Benefit is a weekly payment for people unable to work due to an accident at work or a disease they have contracted due to the type of work they do. Accidents that occur when on an unbroken journey to or from work are regarded as occupational accidents.
Farm Assist
Farm Assist is a weekly means-tested payment for low income farmers. Farmers who have income from another source (such as other self-employment, insurable employment, or capital) may still qualify for a payment under the Farm Assist Scheme.
Back to Work
If you are getting certain social welfare payments, the Back to Work Allowance (BTWA) for employees can provide you with a financial cushion to help you to return to work. Under this scheme, you may keep a portion of your social welfare payment for 3 years, without having to pay tax or PRSI on it
This is a weekly payment for unemployed people who set up their own business. It allows you to keep a portion of your social welfare payment for 4 years and is not subject t o tax or Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)
The Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme allows certain long-term unemployed people to take up a part-time job and receive a special weekly allowance instead of their jobseeker's payment.
Back to Education
This section outlines a number of ways that you can return to full-time or part-time education while continuing to get income support. The programmes range from basic foundation courses through to third level postgraduate courses.
Benefits Abroad
Social Insurance & EC Regulations
Bilateral Social Insurance Agreements with Other EU Countries
Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI)
This section explains Social Insurance and who it covers.
It outlines:
- the Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions payable by employees, employers and self-employed people
- Credited Contributions ('credits')
- Voluntary Contributions