Employment Supports for People with Disability
Information Guide for INTREO Reception Staff
Department of Social Protection
Note:
DATED
___________________________________________
Detailed Information for Staff on Contents may be obtained on the A-Z of STOR
under “Disability & Illness Policy” or other internal sites listed in this document
___________________________________________
04/07/2014
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CONTENTS
Section Title
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Page
EMPLOYABILITY (FORMERLY SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT) .......................................... 3
WAGE SUBSIDY SCHEME (WSS) .................................................................................... 5
DISABILITY SUPPORT /AWARENESS – INCORPORATING: 4 TO 8 .................................. 8
WORKPLACE EQUIPMENT ADAPTATION GRANT (WEAG) ............................................ 9
JOB INTERVIEW INTERPRETER GRANT (JIIG)……………………………………………………… .... 10
PERSONAL READER GRANT(PRG) ............................................................................... 10
EMPLOYEE RETENTION GRANT SCHEME (ERGS) ........................................................ 11
DISABILITY AWARENESS SUPPORT SCHEME (DASS) ................................................... 12
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT (CE) ............................................................................... 14
PARTIAL CAPACITY BENEFIT (PCB) .............................................................................. 16
OTHER SUPPORTS ....................................................................................................... 18
DSP INCOME SUPPORT SCHEMES & THEIR RELEVANCE TO DISABILITY SUPPORTS 19
DISABILITY ALLOWANCE ............................................................................................. 19
ILLNESS BENEFIT…....................................................................................................... 22
INVALIDITY PENSION................................................................................................... 26
PARTIAL CAPACITY BENEFIT ........................................................................................ 28
DISABLEMENT BENEFIT............................................................................................... 32
CARER’S ALLOWANCE ................................................................................................. 35
CARERS BENEFIT ......................................................................................................... 38
Appendices
1
Contact details of EmployAbility Companies .............................................................. 40
2
Contact details of Area Managers (APs) responsible for DASS and ERGS……………… 43
3
Contact details for Local Employment Services Offices nationwide………………………..48
4
Contract details of Area Managers (APs) responsible for Disability Supports in
Employment Services ………………………………………………………………………………………… 62
2
Department of Social Protection
Employment Supports for People with Disability
Information Guide for INTREO Reception Staff
Background:
A number of programmes which were formerly operated by FÁS are now operated by the
Department of Social Protection. These include:
1. EmployAbility Service (formerly Supported Employment Programme).
2. The Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS)
3. The Disability Support/Awareness Grants and Schemes
4. Community Employment
In addition to the above, there are the existing DSP supports
5. Partial Capacity Benefit
6. Other Supports
The relevant details of these programmes may be summarised in sequence as follows:
1. EmployAbility Service (Formerly Supported Employment Programme)
Purpose and objectives of the scheme
The three main aims of the EmployAbility Services are:
1. To facilitate the integration of people with disabilities into paid employment in the
open labour market;
2. To provide supports to assist with this integration process; and
3. To meet the requirements of employers.
Eligibility criteria: People with a disability who are job ready and need the support of a job
coach to obtain employment in the open labour market. The service is open to people
between the ages of 18 and 65 years.
Description of Scheme: EmployAbility is an open labour market initiative providing disabled
people with supports to help them access the open labour market. It is implemented by
sponsor organisations (EmployAbility) on behalf of DSP who employ Job Coaches to provide
a range of supports tailored to the individual needs of a jobseeker. The ultimate outcome is
that the employee becomes independent of Job Coach support. TheSupported Employment
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Service is an employment and recruitment service to assist people with a disability to secure
and maintain a job in the open labour market. Employment Services refer customers to
EmployAbility (Supported Employment)
This Supported Employment Service provides a range of supports to employers and people
with a disability, through Job Coaches. The range of supports include:







Individual Needs Assessment
Vocational Profiling and Career Planning
Individual Employment Plan
Job Sourcing and Job Matching
On-the-Job Support and Coaching
Advice and Support to Employers
Follow-up Support and Mentoring to both Employers & Employees.
Those in employment are required to work a minimum of 8 hours per week and it is
reasonable to assume that most of these participants would be availing of the Disability
Allowance Disregard. The capacity of the scheme is approx 3,000 participants at any one
time based on the Job Coach case load capacity.
Detailed information and documentation on the programme can be accessed under
Disability & Illness Policy on the A-Z of STOR.
http://stor/Air/S/Plan/S/DIP/Pages/Default.aspx
(See Appendix 2 for contact details of the EmployAbility Companies nationwide)
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2. Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS)
Purpose and objectives of the scheme
The purpose of this demand - led programme is to increase the numbers of people with
disabilities participating in the open labour market. A disabled employee on the WSS is
subject to the same conditions of employment as other employees. These conditions
include PRSI contributions, annual leave and tax deductions and minimum wage
requirements. The employer must pay the disabled employee the going rate for the job (at
least Minimum Wage).
The Wage Subsidy Scheme was placed on a permanent footing from Oct 1st 2008, subject to
the annual budgetary process, following the operation of a three year pilot phase. The
current subsidy rate of €5.30 per hour is index linked to the Minimum Wage of € 8.65. The
employee must work a Minimum of 21 hours per week in order for the employer to avail of
the wage subsidy. The maximum number of hours per week that can be agreed for wage
subsidy are 39 hours (this is the max hours per week on which subsidy can be paid). The
participating employee is required to give up his/her primary benefit (except in very limited
circumstances) and the only secondary benefit that may be retained is his/her Medical Card,
if meeting certain eligibility criteria.
Eligibility criteria
This employer support scheme is restricted to private sector employers only. Public Sector is
as identified in the Disability Act 20051. Employees must have a recognised disability as
defined by the Disability Act 2005. In practical terms, this is evidenced as currently being in
receipt of an existing Social Protection disability income support payment or for those not in
receipt of such a payment, disabilities, especially hidden disabilities must be confirmed by
Medical Certification of the disability as per the template in the guidelines. Approved
employers must be able to provide a current Tax Clearance Certificate or they cannot be
registered on the Scheme (Zero Tolerance).
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“public body” means—
(a) a Department of State,
(b) the Office of the President,
(c) the Office of the Attorney General,
(d) the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General,
(e) the Office of the Houses of the Oireachtas,
(f) a local authority,
(g) the Executive,
(h) a person, body or organisation (other than the Defence
Forces) established—
(i) by or under any enactment (other than the Companies
Acts 1963 to 2003), or
(ii) under the Companies Acts 1963 to 2003, in pursuance
of powers conferred by or under another enactment,
and financed wholly or partly, whether directly or
indirectly, by means of moneys provided, or loans
made or guaranteed, by a Minister of the Government
or shares held by or on behalf of a Minister of State
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The employee must:




Have a disability which results in a productivity short fall (20%)
Work for a minimum of 21 hours per week
Be provided with Terms and Conditions of Employment and Job Description
Receive the same conditions of employment as other employees doing similar work.
New Applicants for WSS who are currently on DA, may apply for DA Disregard in conjunction
with the WSS provided the minimum 21 working hours per week WSS threshold is
maintained. The WSS application to be made to Employment Services Offices as heretofore.
On approval of the WSS application, the employee who was on DA is obliged to advise the
following details to the DA section in Longford in writing as it (DA) is a means tested scheme
for claimants :
1.
Their name, address, and PRSI No.
2.
The date their employment started and the name and address of their employer.
3.
The rate of Gross Pay per hour that they are receiving from the employer
4.
The number of hours per week that they will be working.
5.
A letter from the applicant’s doctor confirming the work is of a rehabilitative nature.
The postal address that this information must be sent to is:
DA Section, Social Welfare Services, Department of Social Protection, Ballinalee Road,
Longford.
Employers of individuals who have been approved for Partial Capacity Benefit cannot avail
of the WSS.
Recipients of other Social Welfare income supports such as JA, JB, IP that might be eligible
should advise their Local Office if they intend taking up employment under WSS to confirm
the impact that such open labour market employment would have on their existing income
support payment, prior to taking up employment.
Description of Scheme:
Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS) – provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public
sector, to employ disabled people who work more than 20 hours per week. The Scheme is
structured in three strands. The employer can benefit from one or all, simultaneously.
- Strand I subsidy - is a general subsidy for any perceived productivity shortfall in
excess of 20% for a disabled person, in comparison to a non disabled peer. An
employee must work a minimum of 21 hours per week up to a maximum of 39 hours
6
per week. The rate of subsidy is €5.30 per hour and is based on the number of
hours worked, giving a total annual subsidy available of €10,748 per annum based on
39 hour week.
- Strand II - is based on the total number of disabled employees in a company, an
employer can apply for a grant to cover additional costs ranging from an additional
10% for 3-6 employees to a maximum of 50% of the wage subsidy for 23+ disabled
employees.
- Strand III - is where 30 or more disabled people are employed, employers can avail
of a grant of €30,000 per annum to assist with the cost of employing an Employment
Assistance Officer.
Detailed information and documentation on the programme can be accessed under
Disability & Illness Policy on the A-Z of STOR.
http://stor/Air/S/Plan/S/DIP/Pages/Default.aspx
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3. Disability Support/Awareness
A number of different employment supports for people with disabilities are provided for
under this heading.
A. Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant
B. Job Interview\Personal Reader Grant
C. Employee Retention Grant Scheme.
D. Disability Awareness Support Scheme
Purpose and objectives of the scheme
The purpose of these grants is to:

Support unemployed people with disabilities to gain access to the open labour
market by providing grants for “reasonable accommodations” in the private sector
only.

Support private sector employers and encourage them in the employment of people
with disabilities
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Eligibility criteria
A. Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant is to increase the job opportunities for
disabled people by supporting additional costs related to the disability.
This scheme applies only to the additional costs of adapting workplace equipment or
provision of equipment arising from the individual’s disability. It should not be used to
provide support usually provided by employers or supports required under legislation for
employees who do not have a disability.
The WEAG is a contribution towards the cost of an adaptation or equipment up to a current
limit of €6,350. It can also be used to upgrade adaptive equipment which may have been
funded previously. It may be applied for by either the employer or the employee. It can be
for new (disabled) employees or for existing employees or for self-employment
Employment is regarded as full or part-time contracted employment, whether permanent or
temporary, for a minimum of 8 hours per week.
Apprenticeship, where the applicant is receiving training but is in paid employment and
receiving usual apprenticeship rates.
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B. Job Interview Interpreter Grant & Personal Reader Grant
Job Interview Interpreter Grant may be utilised if a job seeker is deaf, hard of hearing or has
a speech impairment and is attending job interviews; they can apply for funding to have a
sign language interpreter or other interpreter (such as family member) attend the interview
with them.
DSP will pay a fee as per the standard rate for a three hour period using a professionally
qualified interpreter. Travel costs for the interpreter are paid at a fixed rate. Rates will be
differentiated between professionally qualified interpreters and others. Non-qualified
interpreters, such as family members would be paid at Minimum Wage Level.
As at October 1st, 2012 DSP have been advised that the range for a professional interpreter
ranges between €95 to €205 for a half day (up to 3 hours plus travel, this is dependent on
individual interpreter rates, the skill level of the interpreter (technical/non technical) and
the duration of the assignment. AP’s have the discretion to choose the most economically
attractive service available to the division.
The Personal Reader Grant is available to blind or visually impaired persons who are in
employment and who need a Personal Reader to assist them with job related reading. Such
reading is part of the employee’s duties but due to the nature of their visual impairment
they cannot perform reading duties themselves. Experience shows that such applications
tendsto be for reading handwritten documents in professional offices that cannot be read
by IT assistive technology.
The rate is €8.65 per hour for up to a maximum of 648 hours per annum.
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C. Employee Retention Grant Scheme
The Employee Retention Grant is a grant available to private sector employers, should an
employee acquire an illness, condition, or impairment, which may undermine their
continued employability. The Employee Retention Grant aims to assist employers in
retaining such employees. The cause or nature of the illness, condition, or impairment, is
not relevant for the purpose of this grant. The Employee Retention Grant Scheme will
enable employers to identify the continuing potential of such staff to be productive and
valuable employees. It will assist in enabling the retention of the employee in his/her
current position or in retraining the employee for another position in the company for the
benefit of both the employer and the employee. The grant assists in maintaining the
employee by providing funding to:
Identify accommodation and/or training to enable the staff member to remain in his/her
current position,
or
Retrain the staff member so that he/she can take up a different position within the
company.
(See Appendix 2 for Nominated List of APs responsible for this particular programme)
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D. Disability Awareness Support Scheme
This scheme is open to all organisations in the private sector and is available for raising the
awareness of personnel at all levels and occupations. It may be regarded as grant support
for staff development programmes that deal with disability etiquette for employers in
relation to their staff and customers.
The purpose of this scheme is to assist the integration of people with disabilities into the
workforce and to eliminate mistaken perceptions about people with disabilities and their
capacity to be productive and effective colleagues and employees.
The Disability Awareness Support Scheme has been developed to address the concerns that
employers and employees may have about working with people with disabilities or dealing
with them as customers
Disability Awareness Support Scheme is suitable for the following:
 Organisations interested in employing or retaining people with disabilities;
 Organisations interested in promoting the employment of people with
disabilities.
Description of the 4 Support Schemes A-D :
Reasonable Accommodation is a term used in equality legislation to define the framework
within which an obligation is placed on employers and training bodies to take appropriate
measures to accommodate people with a disability.
DSP operates a series of private sector employment supports to assist disabled people to
access and progress in employment. These are now grouped under the umbrella name of
the Reasonable Accommodation Fund
These supports may be outlined briefly as follows:
A - Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant – WEAG is available to employers in the
private sector who need to adapt equipment or the workplace to accommodate a
disabled employee. The maximum grant provided is €6,350 and covers minor
building modifications such as ramps or accessible toilets; assistive technology;
amplifiers for telephones, etc.
B - Job Interview/Induction Interpreter Grant – JIIG is available to cover the costs of
an interpreter up to a maximum of €106.68 for a three hour period for interview and
induction purposes where an interviewee or new staff member is deaf, hard of
hearing or has a speech impediment.
- Personal Reader Grant – PRGS is available to blind or visually impaired persons
who are in employment and who need a Personal Reader to assist them with job
related reading. Such reading is part of the employee’s duties but due to the nature
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of their visual impairment they cannot perform reading duties themselves. The
grant to be paid will be based on a fee per hour, in line with minimum wage. Where
there is a requirement for technically qualified readers, the fee to be paid will be
looked at on an individual basis and may be higher.
C - Employee Retention Grant Scheme – ERGS is available to private sector
employers when an employee develops a disability whether occupational or not. It
provides funding to identify accommodation or training to enable the employee to
remain in their current position or to re-train them to take up another position
within the organisation. There are two stages to the scheme;
- Assessment, 90% of the costs of developing a retention strategy can be funded to a
max. of €2,500.
- Implementation, 90% of eligible programme costs can be funded to a max. of
€12,500.
Other Supports Available which are not part of Reasonable Accommodation Fund.
D - Disability Awareness Support Scheme – DASS assists the integration of disabled
people into the workplace and helps to eliminate mistaken perceptions about them.
It is available to all companies in the private sector who are interested in employing,
retaining or relating to people with disabilities. Funding of up to 90% of
development costs is available in the first year and up to 80% of costs in subsequent
years with an annual limit of €20,000 payable to an organisation. To avail of this
funding, however, development must be carried out by a DSP approved
organisation.
Detailed information and documentation on each of the 4 programmes can be accessed
under Disability & Illness Policy on the A-Z of STOR.
http://stor/Air/S/Plan/S/DIP/Pages/Default.aspx
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4. Community Employment
Purpose and Objectives:
Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme/intervention designed
to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons
(including lone parents, recovering drug mis-users and those with a disability) with an
opportunity to engage in useful part-time work within their communities on a temporary,
fixed-term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking
their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to
enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills by providing opportunities for
individual training and development. CE should also provide clear economic and social
benefits to the local communities and contribute to the strategies contained in the Local,
Urban and Rural Development Operational Programme
Eligibility Criteria
The Community Employment Programme has two options (strands):
 Part Time Integration Option (PTI), 1-year version of CE for those who have been in
receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 12 months or more.
 Part Time Job Option (PTJ), 3-year version of CE, (annually renewable contracts) for
those who have been in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 3 years or
more.
Eligibility Criteria for PTI (and PTJ where specified):
The CE Eligibility requirements for marginalised groups are not as demanding as for other
Job seeker groups so as to encourage participation. The CE eligibility requirements for
persons with a disability are as follows.
Specific Eligibility Criteria for Persons with Disabilities

Persons aged 18 years or over (35+ for PTJ) and are currently in receipt of any of the
following payments from the Department of Social Protection (DSP):
o Disability Allowance (DA);
o Blind Pension (BP);
o Invalidity Pension (IP)
o Illness Benefit (IB) for 6 months or more
Effectively a person in receipt of DA, BP or IP can be in receipt of their payment for 1 week
and be eligible for CE. The 6 month criterion for IB was originally to do with the
Department’s medical assessment of IB clients by their 6th month in receipt.
IP and IB clients formerly had to receive written permission to participate on CE (called an
Exemption from the Rules of Behaviour). This exemption was to allow them to continue
receiving their disability payment while also doing work of a rehabilitative nature on
Community Employment. This permission is no longer required under the Social Welfare Act
2011 as clients commencing CE placements can no longer receive their original social
welfare payment and a CE allowance simultaneously. The replacement allowances on CE are
€20 higher than the original payment (CE participation bonus).
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Programme Description
The CE programme is designed to assist those most marginalised from the labour market to
enhance and develop both their personal and technical skills within a work experience
environment. The training and educational needs of participants are assessed and an
individual training plan is developed on an individual basis linked to the participants needs
and interests in relation to the labour market.
To achieve its objectives, the programme is sponsored by groups (hereafter called Sponsors)
wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary organisations and public bodies
involved in not-for-profit activities. DSP gives financial support in the form of allowances
and funding to assist with the Community Employment programme, for example participant
wages, supervisor grants, materials grants, and training grants. To facilitate the provision of
development and training for participants, DSP encourages that projects employ 15 or more
participants and a full-time supervisor.
(Detailed information on the Programme may be obtained on A-Z of Stor under
Community Employment)
http://stor/SWS/S/CE/Pages/Default.aspx
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5. Partial Capacity Benefit
Purpose and objectives of the scheme
In February 2012, a new Partial Capacity Benefit payment option was introduced for people
with disabilities. The aim of the partial capacity benefit scheme is to address a limitation of
the current welfare system by explicitly recognising and responding to the reality that some
people with disabilities will have a capacity to engage in open market employment while
continuing to need some income support from the State. The objective of the scheme is to
incentivise such people to return to the workplace without fear of loss of their disability
related social welfare benefits.
Partial capacity benefit allows a person to return to work (if they have reduced capacity to
work) and continue to receive a payment from the Department. They may not work until
they have received written approval to do so from the Department. They should also get the
approval of their doctor before taking up employment.


There is no restriction on earnings or number of hours they can work.
Participation in the scheme is voluntary.
The scheme provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to have their capacity for
work assessed and to receive an income support payment based on this assessment. They
can then avail of employment opportunities, with no income restriction on employment
income, while continuing to receive this income support payment. The scheme is open to
people who are in receipt of Invalidity Pension or who have been in receipt of Illness Benefit
for a minimum of six months. Participation in the scheme is voluntary.
The scheme extends the welfare system by explicitly recognising and responding to the
reality that some people with disabilities will have a capacity to engage in open market
employment while continuing to receive some income support from the State. The objective
of the scheme is to incentivise such people to return to the workplace without fear of loss of
their disability related social welfare benefits.
Eligibility criteria
The scheme is open to people who currently;


are in receipt of illness benefit for a minimum of six months, or
are in receipt of invalidity pension.
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Description of Scheme:
When a person applies for partial capacity benefit a medical assessor of the Department
assesses the restriction on their capacity for work. A person will qualify for partial capacity
benefit if the restriction on their capacity for work is assessed as moderate, severe, or
profound. If it is assessed as mild they will not qualify and their continued eligibility to illness
benefit or invalidity pension will also be reviewed.
The personal rate of payment is based on the assessment of the restriction on their capacity
for work and whether they were in receipt of illness benefit or invalidity pension.
Medical Assessment
% of Personal Rate of Illness Benefit
or Invalidity Pension Payment
Moderate
50%
Severe
75%
Profound
100%
Any increase being paid in respect of a qualified adult or qualified children will not be
affected. Payment of partial capacity benefit lasts as long as the person has an entitlement
to payment of illness benefit or invalidity pension. A person’s continued entitlement to
partial capacity benefit is subject to review.
A person who is in receipt of partial capacity benefit can opt to return to illness benefit or
invalidity pension if, for example, their employment ceases or they find they cannot
continue to work. They will then be subject to the provisions of the scheme they return to,
whether illness benefit or invalidity pension. Following the introduction of partial capacity
benefit, new exemptions for participation in part-time work for rehabilitative or therapeutic
purposes are no longer available.
(A detailed Staff Information Sheet on Partial Capacity is available on the following Stor
Link)
http://stor/SWS/S/RDO/Docs/Knowledge Management/Information for Staff/RSO
Circulars 2007- Present/Misc Notes issued to LO's/016 Partial Capacity Benefit Information
Sheet.doc
http://stor/SWS/S/RDO/Docs/Knowledge Management/Information for Staff/RSO Circulars 2007Present/Misc Notes issued to LO's/016 Partial Capacity Benefit Information Sheet.doc
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6. Other supports
The Disability Activation Project (DACT) is co-funded by the Department of Social
Protection and the European Social Fund. The DACT project is being managed by Pobal on
behalf of the Department. The objective of the 14 individual projects being supported under
the banner of DACT, which will run until the first quarter of 2015, is to explore a variety of
routes towards ensuring that people with disabilities are enabled to avail of progression,
education and development opportunities within the world of work. It is anticipated that
2,750 participants will avail of these projects from 2013 until early 2015 under DACT
throughout the Border, Midlands & West region which address the four specific strands of
the project.
The four strands of the project are
(1) Improving Access to Employment;
(2) Progression Programmes for Young People;
(3) Support for Progression and Retention of People with an Acquired Disability; and
(4) Innovative Employer Initiatives.
A key criterion applied in selecting projects was that they should be capable, where
appropriate, of being mainstreamed in the future.
People with disabilities may also be eligible to avail of wider social welfare schemes such as
the Back to Education Allowance and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance.
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) aims to give people who left school early and
those without third level qualifications a second chance to attain educational qualifications
so as to reduce their risk of long term unemployment. BTEA is paid at a standard weekly
rate. In addition, an annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500 is payable. Education
programmes can range from basic foundation courses through to third level postgraduate
courses.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme encourages people getting certain social
welfare payments to become self-employed. People taking part in the Back to Work
Enterprise Allowance scheme can keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up
to two years.
Disability Allowance Disregard. A person who is in receipt of Disability Allowance may take
up employment of a rehabilitative nature. The first €120 of weekly earnings is disregarded
in means test for the payment while earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed at 50%.
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DSP Income Support Schemes and their interaction, where appropriate or relevant,
to the suite of DSP employment supports for People with Disabilities.
1.
Disability Allowance.
Description of scheme
Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with a specified
disability whose income falls below certain limits and who are aged between 16
and are under 66.
Please see Information Leaflet ‘Disability Allowance' SW 29
The Scheme is administered by Disability Allowance Section, Social Welfare
Services Office, Ballinalee Road, Longford LoCall no. 1890927770
Qualifying Conditions in Summary
To qualify for a Disability Allowance a person must:
be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a
medical assessment or examination of the person's disability;
be aged between 16 and under 66;
satisfy a means test;
be habitually resident in the State.
Qualifying Conditions in Detail
Medical
Be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment
The medical criteria which must be satisfied in order to qualify for Disability
Allowance are:
(a) The person must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or
physical or mental illness or defect which has continued or may reasonably be
expected to continue for a period of at least a year
and
(b) As a result of the condition the person is substantially restricted in
undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the
person's age, experience and qualifications.
This would mean that the person's capacity to undertake or carry out work
would be substantially less than that of a person without the specified disability
in question.
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The application form requires claimants to produce certified medical evidence
which outlines various aspects of their medical condition. In all cases an
assessment is made by Departmental Medical Assessors of the evidence
submitted to determine the nature and extent of the disability and its effect on
the person's capacity to work.
Detailed Staff Information Sheet is available on STOR at the following address:
http://stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/Knowledge Management/Information for
Staff/Guidelines/Disability Allowance.docx
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Disability Allowance (DA).
Wage Subsidy Scheme - Currently, the only way for a person on DA could avail
of the WSS is through the DA Disregard as outlined on page 6 of this document
wherein they apply for the DA Disregard, if they work a minimum of 21 hours
per week.
Secondary benefits such as Travel Allowance are withdrawn by the respective
units on the individual’s return to employment.
In relation to the Department of Health’s Medical Card, enquirers should contact
the local office of the Health Service Executive for up to date information.
Currently as per SW 4 (Paragraph 9.13, page 183), if you have a medical card and
you have been unemployed for at least 12 months and get work you will retain
the Medical Card for 3 years.
EmployAbility – A person on DA may be referred to the EmployAbility Service
for assisted job seeking. Those successful in getting employment in the open
labour market would normally apply for the DA Disregard, if already in receipt of
DA as they are required to work a minimum of 8 hours per week on completion
of the scheme.
Community Employment - Effectively a person in receipt of DA, BP or IP can be
in receipt of their payment for 1 week and be eligible for CE.
Disability Support/Awareness
You will recall from the earlier descriptions in this document that a number of
different employment supports for people with disabilities are provided for
under this heading. These are namely:
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E. Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant
F.
Job Interview\Personal Reader Grant
G. Employee Retention Grant Scheme.
H. Disability Awareness Support Scheme
A,B,C and D are direct financial grants and have no relation to what income
support, if any, the applicant is on.
The important aspect for A & B is that the applicant must have a disability and
will have to declare the disability whether employed or unemployed, if the
disability is hidden the officer must seek verification of the disability. The person
should provide medical certification of the disability and or show evidence that
they are formally registered with a particular disability organisation (ie National
Council for the Blind, Deafhear etc). The latter applies mostly with Workplace
Equipment Adaptation Grants if one is having difficulty in determining whether
the applicant is eligible or not.
If unemployed, their disability status may be verified by being on a disability
income support, or provide medical certification as above.
B & C are specific grants to the employer to either retain a disabled person or
provide disability awareness training within company. The Employee Retention
Grant applies not only to a disability, but to an occupational injury. So
certification of the disability is not sole issue in these applications.
21
2.
Illness Benefit
Description of Scheme
Illness Benefit is a payment made to insured people who are unable to work due
to illness and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.
Please see information Leaflet “Illness Benefit” SW 119.
Qualifying conditions in summary
To qualify for Illness Benefit (IB) a customer must:
Be unable to work due to illness.
Be under the pensionable age (currently 66).
Satisfy the contribution conditions.
Qualifying Conditions in Detail
Be unable to work due to Illness
Illness Benefit is paid for each day on which a customer is unable to work due to
illness. In legislation this day is defined as a “day of incapacity for work”. Any 3
days of incapacity for work, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 6
consecutive days are treated as a period of incapacity for work and any 2 such
periods, not separated by more than 3 days, are treated as one period of
incapacity for work.
(How this is applied is explained further in the sections “Linking” and “Waiting
Days” (page 10 of the staff information sheet link at the end of this document).
Be under the pensionable age (currently 66)
A customer may receive IB up to the day before their 66 th birthday. Customers
approaching pensionable age are advised to apply for State Pension (Transition)
or State Pension (Contributory/Non-Contributory) 6 months in advance of the
relevant age limit.
22
Satisfy the contribution conditions
To qualify for IB a customer must satisfy all 3 of the contribution conditions
Waiting Days
From 06 January 2014, a customer is not entitled to Illness Benefit for the first 6
days of any period of incapacity for work. (This increased from 3 days, following
a change announced in Budget 2014). This means that a person does not get
paid for the first 6 days that they are out sick. These are called "waiting days".
Sunday is not counted as a waiting day.
Payments to Persons in Receipt of Carer's Benefit or Allowance
From 27 September 2007 a customer who is in receipt of Illness Benefit or being
claimed for as a Qualified Adult and who is providing full time care to another
person may apply for Carer's Allowance and retain their current payment in full.
If they satisfy the conditions for Carer's Allowance it will be awarded at 50% of
the personal rate they would qualify for if they were not in receipt of any other
payment. They will also be eligible for Household Benefits and a Free Travel
Pass.
Blind Pension
Full rate Illness Benefit may be paid to customers who are in receipt of a Blind
Pension. Where a claimant to Illness Benefit is also in receipt of a Blind Pension,
the personal rate and qualified adult and qualified child increases (where
appropriate) for both Illness Benefit and Blind Pension are payable.
Duration of Payment
Limited duration – 312 days (L312)
A customer who has paid between 104 and 259 contributions at an appropriate
class, since entering employment, is entitled to receive payment of Illness
Benefit for a maximum of 312 paid days in any one period of interruption of
employment. A claim category of ‘limited duration 312 days’ (L312) applies in
this case.
Limited duration – 390 days (L390)
Prior to 1 Feb 2012 a customer who had paid a total of 260 or more
contributions at an appropriate class, since entering employment, and was in
receipt of a Widows, Widowers and Surviving Civil Partners Pensions and One23
Parent Family Payment, was entitled to receive payment of Illness Benefit,
concurrently with the other payment, for a maximum of 390 paid days in any
one period of interruption of employment.
Requalification after expiry of Illness Benefit
To requalify for Illness Benefit after expiry of 312 or 624 days a customer
requires:
■
13
contributions
paid
after
the
end
of
their
IB
entitlement
■ a lesser number contributions to be paid after expiry if it brings the total
contributions paid up to 260 (in the case of expiry after 312 days)
Detailed Staff Information Sheet is available on STOR at the following address:
http://stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/Knowledge Management/Informationfor
Staff/Guidelines/Illness Benefit.docx
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Illness Benefit.
The only DSP Income Supports that are regarded as prima facie evidence that a
customer has a disability are Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind
Pension. Any other Income Support recipient may potentially claim or declare
that he or she has a disability as defined by the Disability Act2 In such
circumstances, the onus would be on the claimant or the recipient to confirm
their actual disabled status by providing Medical Certification confirming the
fact. The DSP officers should be aware that such Medical Certification is the only
way of ensuring an audit trail is available for any particular employment support
claim.
A sample Medical Cert is contained in the WSS section of the Disability & Illness
Policy in STOR.
http://stor/Air/S/Plan/S/DIP/Pages/Default.aspx
2
“disability”, in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction
in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or
occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in
the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health
or intellectual impairment;
24
Therefore, IB recipient who is seeking access to any of the Employment Supports
for people with disabilities must satisfy the requirement that the disability must
be independently confirmed to the DSP officer dealing with the application.
This would apply to WSS, EmployAbility and Disability Support Grants.
25
3.
Invalidity Pension
Description of Scheme
Invalidity Pension is a Pension paid to people who are permanently incapable of work
because of illness. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions and is not
means tested.
The Information Leaflet is “Invalidity Pension” SW 44
Qualifying Conditions
To qualify for award of Invalidity Pension a claimant must satisfy both PRSI contribution
and medical conditions as follows:
Medical condition
A claimant must be regarded as permanently incapable of work, which is defined as:
- Incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be
incapable of work for life
OR
- an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim, and where
the Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the claimant is likely to be
unable to work for 1 year from the date of claim.
PRSI Contributions condition
A Claimant must - have a total of at least 260 weeks contributions paid since entry into insurance,
and
- must have 48 weeks PRSI paid or credited in the last complete tax year before the date
of claim, (Governing Contribution Year).
(PRSI paid in classes A, E and H are reckonable).
In addition, where a claimant has no reckonable contributions paid or credited for two
consecutive years, that person is not entitled to the payment of Invalidity Pension until
26 qualifying contributions have been paid subsequently.
Detailed Information Sheet is available on STOR at the following address:
26
http://stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/KnowledgeManagement/Informationfor
staff/Guidelines/Invalidity Pension.doc
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Invalidity Pension.
While receipt of Invalidity Pension definitely confirms that a person is disabled,
the question arises as to how they can undertake employment if they are
permanently disabled. Therefore any application for any employment support
should first be considered as to how taking up employment would impact on
their Invalidity Pension if they undertook employment at the level of 21 hours
per week or more in WSS.
Partial Capacity Benefit is more appropriate in the context of an Invalidity
Pensioner returning to work. However, should the applicant decide to return to
work, they may not avail of both PCB and WSS simultaneously. It is a question of
one scheme or the other. PCB is a direct employee subsidy whereas WSS is an
employer one and they should not be awarded in tandem.
In the case of an Invalidity Pensioner deciding to return to work, he/she would
be eligible to apply for the other disability employment support, such as
Workplace Equipment Adaption Grant, Job Interview Interpreter Grant and
Personal Reader Grant in line with the specific criteria for those grant schemes.
27
4.
Partial Capacity Benefit
What is PCB?
Illness Benefit (IB) and Invalidity Pension (InvP) provide a payment to people
who are unfit for work fulltime.
Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a new Scheme and is designed for people who
have some capacity for work. If awarded, PCB will allow them to continue to
receive a percentage of their IB or InvP payment while working.
How does a person qualify?
Participation in the PCB scheme is voluntary. They must be in receipt of either
Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit
IB must be in payment for at least six months at the date of application for PCB
(the six months does not apply to Invalidity Pension).
Medical Assessment
The person must satisfy the medical conditions. A Medical Assessor of the
Department will assess the restriction on the person’s capacity for work. This
process may be at desk or may include an In Person Assessment (and the level of
assessment will be decided by the Medical Assessor).
PCB claims are subject to medical review – minimum review period is one year.
If the medical assessor defines the incapacity as ‘mild’ then that person will be
deemed capable of work and their IB or InvP claim closed. The normal capable
notification letter will issue.
Detailed qualifying conditions are contained on the PCB Information Sheet
(SW132)
http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/IllnessDisabilityAndCaring/Pages/pcb.aspx
How do they apply
Applicants must complete an application form (PCB1) and have their doctor
complete a medical report (Med Rpt PCB1).
Applicants must contact PCB Section or Invalidity Pension Section to get the
application forms and information leaflet (PCB1 and Med Rpt PCB1, and
information leaflet, SW132).
28
The completed applications must be returned to PCB Section in AMD, who
administer the Scheme. Applications must be returned within 6 weeks or their
IB Claim will be suspended. Alternatively, they must withdraw the claim within
6 weeks and they will remain on their IB or InvP claim.
Information is also available on www.welfare.ie
Permission to work
A person cannot start work until their PCB application has been approved and
they have received written permission from this Department.
If you get a query from a claimant who has already started working refer them
on to PCB Section immediately.
How much can they earn
There is no restriction on earnings.
How many Hours can they work
There is no restriction on the number of hours a person can work.
How is it paid
PCB is paid by EFT only (into an Irish bank account).
When did start?
PCB came into effect from Monday, 13-Feb-2012.
Rate of payment
The rate of payment will depend on the personal rate of the qualifying scheme
(IB or InvP) from which the customer originates and the medical assessment of
the customer’s capacity for work as outlined below.
Medical
Assessment
% of IB or InvP
personal rate
Moderate
50
Severe
75
Profound
100
29
The reduction in payment rates will be applied to the personal rate only.
Increases paid in respect of qualified adults and/or children will not be affected.
How Long does payment last
Payment of PCB will last as long as the customer has an underlying entitlement
to payment of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension. The PCB claim will end on the
date that the original claim was due to finish.
After their claim is Benefit Exhausted, customers will requalify for PCB (as long
as they satisfy the 13 contribution condition). BenX letters for PCB claims are
issued by PCB Section.
Secondary Benefits (Invalidity Customers only)
The following are paid with PCB
Island Allowance
Household Benefits Package
Free Travel
The following are not paid with PCB
Living alone allowance
Family Income Supplement (FIS)
Fuel Allowance
What happens if customer loses their job or becomes more ill?
PCB claimants can end their PCB claim and revert to their original IB or InvP
claim, if their circumstances change and they either lose their job, or become
more severely ill.
If that happens, they should contact PCB Section immediately, and they will be
given advice and their claim dealt with.
If they fall ill for a short while (max. 6 weeks) during the course of their PCB
claim, they should contact PCB Section immediately. They will be required to
submit medical certificates and will be paid at their full IB rate for the period
when they are unable to work due to illness. If they are ill for longer than six
weeks they must either return to their PCB rate of payment or end their PCB
claim and revert to their IB or InvP claim.
30
Certification for IB customers
Medical certificates are not required during the duration of a PCB claim.
Please note that claimants who move from IB to PCB must not be asked to
submit a final certificate.
(The PCB claim will run on continuously from the Illness Benefit claim)
PCB contact details
The PCB scheme is administered by
Partial Capacity Benefit Section, Floor 2, ÁMD, Store St, Dublin 1
Tel: 01704 3950/3039/3735/3991
Telephone Enquiries LoCall number: 1890 928 400
Email: see link to Partial Capacity Scheme on www.welfare.ie
What happens to Exemptions?
From 13-Feb-2012 the current rules regarding exemptions for employment will
end and no new applications will be accepted for an exemption to work.
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Partial Capacity Benefit.
Partial Capacity Benefit recipients coming from the Illness Benefit are not
necessarily disabled in the same context of an Invalidity Pensioner returning to
work. The Illness Benefit recipient may be deemed disabled* or have a longterm medical condition/s* as confirmed by medical assessment.
*A physical, learning or mental health difficulty, which has a substantial and
adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out day to day activities. (In this
context, substantial means not minor and long- term means expected to last at
least a year). The definition of disability is as contained in the Disability Act.
2005.
PCB recipients are not eligible for WSS, but may be eligible for Workplace
Equipment Adaptation, Grant, Job Interview Interpreter Grant or Personal
Reader Grant if they meet the conditions of those grant schemes.
31
5.
Disablement Benefit
Description of Scheme
Disablement Benefit is a payment under the Occupational Injuries Scheme which is
payable to an insured person, who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result
of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease, on or after 1 May 1967.
Disablement Benefit may be paid as a once off gratuity or in the form of a Disablement
Pension.
Further information is contained in Leaflet Disablement Benefit SW 31
The scheme is administered by:
Disablement Benefit Section,
Social Welfare Services ,
Government Offices
Ballinalee Road,
Longford
QUALIFYING CONDITIONS:
The customer must have been insurably employed at PRSI classes A, B, D, J or M when
the accident happened or when the disease was sustained.
The customer must suffer a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an
occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease.
The accident must have occurred on or after 1 May 1967 or the prescribed disease must
have developed on or after 1 May 1967.
The accident must have happened out of and in the course of employment which is
insurable for occupational injuries.
The accident (or disease) must normally have occurred in (or been contracted in) the
State.
The extent of disablement is assessed, by reference to the disabilities incurred as a result
of the relevant loss of faculty, in accordance with the following general principles:1. All disabilities to which the customer may be expected to be subject during the
assessment period are taken into account;
2. The question of whether or not there will be a loss of earning power or additional
expense is not considered relevant;
32
3. Physical and mental condition at the date of the assessment is compared with a
healthy person of the same age and sex.
4. Loss of faculty as a result of a congenital defect or of an injury or disease received or
contracted before or after the relevant accident is not taken into account;
5. The assessment is made without reference to the particular circumstances of the
customer other than age, sex and physical and mental condition.
A list of prescribed degrees of Disablement, is contained in the Schedule 2 of SI 102 of
2007, mainly relating to loss of sight, hearing, and amputation. Other losses are assessed
on a factual basis.
RATES STRUCTURE
The rate of benefit depends on the degree of disablement.
It is paid at a personal rate without increases for dependants, but see also Incapacity
Supplement guideline.
It is payable by pension or gratuity (lump sum) and can be in respect of either a
provisional or a final assessment.
Degree of disablement
Pension or gratuity
20% and above
Pension always payable. The pension may be
awarded for life or for a provisional (finite) period.
Between 15% and 19%, where the Gratuity only payable.
assessment is for a limited
period (provisional)
Between 15 and 19% for life
Option of pension or gratuity
No award can be made if the disablement is less than 15%.
Duration of Payment
Disablement Pensions can be awarded on a provisional basis or for life. Where a
Disablement Pension is awarded for life it is payable until the person dies. It is a personal
award and is not payable to anyone else after the death of the person concerned. (But
see also separate guideline on "Death Benefits")
Provisional awards are paid for a finite period. Customers are informed of this period
when they are notified of an award. Any further award commences immediately after
the expiry of the earlier award. Payment ceases however on the date of death.
33
Internal Staff Guidelines may be accessed at:
http:// stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/.../Guidelines/OIB Disablement Benefit.doc
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Disablement Benefit
In relation to this payment, queries regarding same are infrequent. A recipient
of same who is unemployed and has been assessed as having a 20% or above
disablement would be eligible to apply for WSS. WSS is available for new hires
only.
Such an applicant would also be eligible to apply for Workplace Equipment
Adaptation Grant, Personal Reader Grant and Job Interview Interpreter Grant as
appropriate, if in work or returning to work as appropriate to the individual
circumstances.
34
6.
Carer’s Allowance
Description of Scheme
Carer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for people who provide full-time care and
attention to:
(I) Persons who are over age 16 and who require full time care and attention, and
(II) Persons who are under age 16 who require full time care and attention and in respect of
whom a domiciliary care allowance is being paid.
The Information Leaflet is Carer's Allowance - SW 41
The scheme is administered by the Social Welfare Services Office, Ballinalee Road, Longford.
Qualifying Conditions in Summary
Carer must:
* be aged 18 or over;
* satisfy a means test;
* be living with the person s/he is looking after, or be in a position to provide full time care
and attention to a person who is not living with him/her.
* be caring for the person on a full-time basis;
* not be employed or self-employed outside the home for more than 15 hours per week;
* not be living in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution;
* be fit to care.
Person being cared for (referred to in the legislation as the Relevant Person) must:
* be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this
full-time care and attention for at least 12 months;
* if under age 16 must be a person in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance is
paid.
Habitual Residence Condition
From 1 May 2004 all applicants for Carers Allowance must be habitually resident in Ireland.
Qualifying Conditions in Detail - CARER
- Carer must be aged 18 or over
There is no upper age limit.
35
- Carer must satisfy a means test
The Carer must live with the person being cared for. In certain circumstances this
requirement may be relaxed.
- Carer must not be employed or self-employed outside the home
A Carer may engage in limited self-employment or outwork within the home provided the
care recipient continues to receive full-time care and attention. Income from this
employment would be assessable as means if the aggregate of €332.50 for a
single/separated/civil partner who is not living with the other civil partner of the civil
partnership Carer or €665.00 for a married/in a civil partnership/co-habiting Carer.
OR
A Carer may, with the prior permission of the Department, engage in employment outside
the home for up to 15 hours per week. The cared for person must be adequately cared for
in the Carer's absence. Income from this employment would be assessable as means if the
aggregate of all income exceeds the disregard amounts of €332.50 for a
single/separated/civil partner who is not living with the other civil partner of the civil
partnership Carer or €665.00 for a married /in a civil partnership/co-habiting Carer.
OR
A carer may also work as a home-help for a Health Service Executive for up to 15 hours
week, provided s/he makes adequate provision for care of the care recipient in their
absence. Means from this employment is assessable from January 2012.
- Carer or Person being cared for must not be resident in an
Institution.
Qualifying Conditions in detail - Person being cared for
- Person being cared for is aged under 16
A Domiciliary Care Allowance must be in payment in respect of this person.
- Person being cared for must be so invalided or disabled as to need full-time care and
attention
A person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention when
(a) s/he is so disabled or invalided that s/he requires from another person
- Continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him/herself
or
36
- Continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with
his/her normal personal needs, for example help to walk and get about, eat or drink,
wash, bathe, dress etc.
and
(b) s/he is so disabled or invalided as to be likely to require full-time care and attention for a
period of at least 12 months.
The degree of medical incapacity and the expected duration of the incapacity must be
certified by a medical doctor.
Respite Payment
The Respite Care Grant is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people who
need full-time care and attention. From June 2005, it is extended to carers who provide
full-time care and attention regardless of means and who satisfy other qualifying
conditions.
You do not need to apply for a Respite Care Grant if you qualify for Carer's Allowance. It is
automatically paid on the first Thursday in June and is paid to carer's to cover the cost of
respite care. This grant is at a fixed amount for all carer's, and does not vary with the
weekly rate in payment.
Staff Information may be accessed on STOR at:
http://stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/Knowledge%20Management/Forms/Date%20order
%20latest.aspx?View=%7b00BF3048%2d61EB%2d4A0E%2d9787%2dC5A9F7E17389%7d
&RootFolder=http%3a%2f%2fstor%2fSWS%2fS%2fCar%2fS%2fDAO%2fDocs%2fKnowle
dge%20Management%2fInformation%20for%20Staff%2fGuidelines&FolderCTID=0x012
00025C1CE765520D243B084B6316905F58C
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Carer’s Allowance
There is no direct relationship between this support and the menu of
employment supports for people with disabilities who may be accessing the
open labour market .
37
7.
Carer’s Benefit
Description of scheme
Carer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who have recently left the workforce
and who are looking after certain people in need of full-time care and attention. It is
payable for a period of 2 years for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate
periods up to a total of 2 years.
Further information is available on Information Leaflet Carer's Benefit - SW 49
The scheme is administered by the Social Welfare Services Office, Ballinalee Road,
Longford.
Qualifying Conditions - CARER
A Carer must have given up work to care for a person(s) who is in need of full time care
and attention and fulfil certain PRSI contribution conditions.
A Carer must also
- have been employed for at least eight weeks, whether consecutive or not, in the previous
26 week period for a minimum of 16 hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight;
- satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions;
- be caring for the person on a full-time basis;
- not be employed or self-employed outside the home for more than 15 hours per week;
- not be living in a hospital, convalescent home or other similar institution;
- be fit to care.
Qualifying Conditions in summary - PERSON BEING CARED FOR
The person being cared for (referred to in the legislation as the Relevant Person) must:
- be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention from another person.
Qualifying Conditions in Detauk - THE CARER
Employment condition
The Carer must have been employed in full-time employment for at least eight weeks,
either consecutive or not, in the 26 week period immediately prior to the commencement
of the Carer's Benefit claim.
Full-time employment in this context is defined as insurable employment for at least 16
hours per week or 32 hours per fortnight.
This condition does not need to be satisfied on a second or subsequent claim where a
38
person was in receipt of Carer's Benefit within the previous 26 weeks.
Carer must not work outside the home over *15 hours a week in employment or self
employment.
A Carer may, with the prior permission of the Department, engage in employment or selfemployment outside the home for up to *15 hours per week. The cared for person must
be adequately cared for in the Carer's absence.
Staff Information may be accessed on STOR at:
http://stor/SWS/S/Car/S/DAO/Docs/Knowledge%20Management/Forms/Date%20order
%20latest.aspx?View=%7b00BF3048%2d61EB%2d4A0E%2d9787%2dC5A9F7E17389%7d
&RootFolder=http%3a%2f%2fstor%2fSWS%2fS%2fCar%2fS%2fDAO%2fDocs%2fKnowle
dge%20Management%2fInformation%20for%20Staff%2fGuidelines&FolderCTID=0x012
00025C1CE765520D243B084B6316905F58C
DSP Disability Employment Supports for people with Disabilities relevant to
Carer’s Benefit.
There is no direct relationship between this support and the menu of
employment supports for people with disabilities who may be accessing the
open labour market.
39
Appendix 1 – Contact details of EmployAbility Companies
North East
Monaghan/Cavan Employability, 5 North Road, Monaghan
047 72424
http://www.midl.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=167&Itemid=11
Louth Employability Service, 9B-9C Partnership Court, Park St, Dundalk
042 9386718
http://employabilitylouth.ie/
Meath Employability Service, 60 Academy St, Navan, Co Meath
046 9060717
http://www.jobmatters.ie/
North West
Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo
071 9153222
Employment Response North West, 1 Custom House, Sligo
West
Galway Employability Galway, Failte House, John Centre, Ballybane, Galway
091 755235
http://www.employabilitygalway.ie/
Roscommon Employability Service, St Patrick’s St, Castlerea, Co Roscommon
094 9620328
http://www.rosemp.ie/home.aspx
Mayo Employability Service, Mosaic Centre, Harlequin Plaza, Garvey Way, Castlebar, Co
Mayo 094 9043008
http://www.employabilitymayo.ie/
Dublin
Dublin South Employability Unit 16A Nutgrove Business Park, Nutgrove Way, Rathfarnham
Dublin 14
01 495 1992
http://www.dsse.ie/
Dublin West Employability Ltd, Unit 15, Bluebell Business Park, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12
01 460 3081
http://www.employability.ie
40
Dublin North Employability, Unit 1/3 Ballymun Industrial Estate, Dublin 11
01 8442700
http://www.work4u.ie/
South East
Kilkenny K/CASES Kilkenny/Carlow Area Employability Service, Unit 1, 3rd Floor Desart House
New Street, Kilkenny
056 7763903
http://www.kcases.ie/
Carlow K/CASES Kilkenny/Carlow Area Employability Service, Lower Pollerton Rd, Carlow
059 9135564
http://www.kcases.ie/
South Tipperary Employability Service, 11 Nelson St, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
052 6129465
Waterford Employment Support Agency, 21 O’Connell St, Waterford
051 855035
Wexford Employability Wexford, Room 30, IFA Ctr, Mill Park Rd, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
053 9243932
http://www.employabilitywexford.ie/
Wicklow Employability Service, Wicklow Enterprise Ctr, The Murrough, Wicklow
0404 20417
http://www.employabilitywicklow.ie/
South West
Kerry Employability Service, Upper Rock St, Tralee, Co Kerry
066 7118758
*Cork Employability, 33 Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork
021 4294949
http://www.employabilitycork.ie/
West Cork Employability Service, Apartment 1, Barrack St, Bantry, Co Cork
021 53765
http://www.empservice.org/
41
Midlands
Kildare Employability Service, Main St, Kilcullen, Co Kildare
045
482064
Laois/Offaly/Westmeath/Longford Midland Employability Service, Unit 53, 1st Floor Bridge
Centre, Tullamore, Co Offaly
057
9323901
http://www.employabilitymidlands.com/
Mid West
Limerick Work Access Ltd, 1st Floor, Pillar House, Little Ellen St, Limerick
061 493095
http://www.workaccess.org/
Clare Employability Service, 1 St Anthony’s Terrace, Harmony Row, Ennis, Co Clare
065 6844007
http://www.employabilityclare.ie/
*North Tipperary Employability Service, Friars Court Offices, Abbey St, Nenagh, Co
Tipperary
067 37896
42
Appendix 2
Names and Contact Details of the DSP (Assistant Principal
Officers) nationwide to whom enquiries or applications for
either the Disability Awareness Support Scheme or the
Employee Retention Grant Scheme should be addressed:
Division
North East
Area Covered
Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
Assistant Principal Responsible
Margaret Cranney
Tel 042 9355700
Margaret.cranney@welfare.ie
Dept of Social Protection,
Government Buildings, St
Alphonsis Rd, Dundalk
Dublin North
Balbriggan, Ballymun,
Coolock, Finglas,
Kilbarrarck, Navan Rd,
Swords
Pat O’Hanlon
Tel 01 867 1177
Patrick.ohanlon@welfare.ie
Dept of Social Protection,
Employment Services,
Northside Civic Centre,
Bunratty Rd, Coolock, D17
Dublin Central
Kings Inn St, Thomas St,
Appollo House, Nutgrove,
Blanchardstown, Bishop
Square
Celia Flynn
Tel 01 6124854
Celia.flynn@welfare.ie
D’Olier House
Ground Floor
D’Olier St,
Dublin 2
43
Dublin South
Maynooth, Clondalkin,
Don Devaney
Don.devaney@welfare.ie
DSP Employment Office
Main St
Clondalkin Village
Dublin 22
Ballyfermot, Tallaght,
Caroline Tobin
Tel. 01 6055989
Caroline.Tobin@welfare.ie
Dept of Social Protection,
Ballyfermot Employment
Services
DSP
FAS Training Centre
Chapelizod Hill
Ballyfermot
Dublin 10
Aongus Horgan
Dunloaghaire
Tel 01-2145568
Aongus.horgan@welfare.ie
18/21 Cumberland Street
Dun Laoghaire
Co. Dublin
South East
Wexford & Waterford
Con Quinlan
Tel 051 862900
44
Con.quinlan@welfare.ie
56 Parnell St
Waterford
Cork Central
Cork City, Cobh, Youghal,
Bandon, Kinsale, Carigaline,
Midleton, Clonakilty
Sean Murphy
Tel 021 4948911
Sean.murphy@welfare.ie
Activation/Employer Liaison
Cork Central Division
Department of Social
Protection
Unit 1 Cornmarket Centre
13-15 Cornmarket,
Cork
South West
Kerry & West Cork
Frank Heffernan
Tel 022 21900
Frank.heffernan@welfare.ie
Area Manager Activation
South West Division
Department of Social
Protection
Government Buildings
Fair Green, New Road
Mallow
Co Cork
Mid-West
Clare & Limerick
Maura Corbett
Tel 061 497900
Maura.corbett@welfare.ie
Area Manager - Activation
45
Department of Social
Protection
Raheen Business Park
Limerick
West
Galway & Mayo
Regina Higgins
Tel 091 706200
Regina.higgins@welfare.ie
Regina Higgins
Department of Social
Protection
C/O FAS Training Centre
Mervue Industrial Estate
Galway
North West
Donegal, Sligo & Leitrim
Francis Byrne
Tel 071 9159500
Francis.byrne@welfare.ie
Employment Services Office
Dept of Social Protection
Ballytivnan
Sligo
Roscommon, Longford,
Meath & West Meath
Midlands North
Ciaran Lawless
Tel 046 9023630
Ciaran.lawless@welfare.ie
Employment Services Office
Tara Mall
Trimgate St
Navan,
46
Co Meath
Kilkenny, Tipperary. Laois &
Offally
Midlands South
Christy Todd
Tel 057 9321921
Christy.todd@welfare.ie
Dept of Social Protection
Employment Services Office
Grand Canal House, Columcille
St, Tullamore
Co Offaly
Wicklow, Kildare & Carlow
Mid Leinster
Joe McGloin
Joe.mcgloin@welfare.ie
Tel 059 9179169
Government Offices
Kennedy Avenue
Carlow
47
Appendix 3:
Local Employment Services (LES) Offices Nationwide













Cork Central
Dublin Central
Dublin North
Dublin South
Midlands North
Midlands South
Mid Leinster
Mid West
North West
North East
South East
South West
West
48
Cork Central
Cork City Partnership LES
Heron House
Blackpool Park
BlackpooL
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 430 2310
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 430 2081
90 Great William O’Brien Street
Blackpool
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 450 6266
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 450 6429
Parochial Hall
Knockfree Avenue
Churchfield
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 421 1048
Work Fax: +353 (0)21
Knocknaheeny Community Building
Foyle Avenue Road
Knocknaheeny
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 421 1050
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 421 1051
Mahon Community Centre
Avenue de Rennes
Mahon
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 435 0496
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 435 0498
Unit 1
4 Iona Park
Mayfield
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 455 3956
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 455 3958
49
Unit 2 Greenwood Estate
Togher
Cork
Work Tel: +353 (0)21 432 0428
Work Fax: +353 (0)21 432 0429
Dublin Central
BIIKR Canals Community LES
Goldenbridge Integrated Complex
St Vincent Street West
Inchicore
Dublin 8
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 453 7229
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 453 7228
BIIKR Dublin Inner City LES
Inner City Renewal Group
85 Amiens Street
Dublin 1
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 876 4670
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 819 7926
St Andrew’s Resource Centre
114 Pearse Street
Dublin 2
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 677 1930
South West Inner City
Unit D, Digital Court
Rainsford Street
Dublin 8
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 511 1260
Northwest Inner City
42 Manor Street
Dublin 7
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 868 6333
Dublin 12 LES
17A St Agnes Road
Crumlin
Dublin 12
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 409 5082
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 465 1095
50
Dublin North
Unit 36 Ballymun Town Centre
Ballymun
Dublin 11
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 866 7000
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 842 0134
Northside Partnership LES
Coolock Development Centre
Bunratty Drive
Coolock
Dublin 17
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 848 5630
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 848 5661
Tolka Area Partnership LES
Rosehill House
Finglas Road
Dublin 11
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 836 1666
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 864 0211
Dublin South
Ballyfermot Partnership LES
4 Drumfin Park
Ballyfermot
Dublin 10
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 623 5612
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 623 0922
South Dublin County (SDC) LES
North Local Employment Service Network
Unit D Nangor Road Business Park
New Nangor Road
Clondalkin
Dublin 12
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 450 8788
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 450 8800
South Local Employment Service Network
Saint John's House
Unit 2 High Street
Tallaght
Dublin 24
51
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 462 3590
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 461 0080
Southside LES
137 Oliver Plunkett Road
Monkstown Farm
Dun Laoghaire
Co Dublin
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 284 1977
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 284 2660
Midlands North
Athlone
Government Offices
Grace Park Road
Athlone
Co Westmeath
Work Tel: +353(090) 6449600
Work Fax +353(090)6470582
Mullingar
Church Avenue
Mullingar
Co Westmeath
Work Tel +353 (0)44 9334550
Work Fax +353 (0)44 9343978
Navan
Tara Mall
Trimgate Street
Navan
Co Meath
Work Tel +353 (0)46 9023630
Work Fax +353 (0)46 9021903
Longford
Government Buildings
Ballinalee Road
Longford
Work Tel (043)3340000
Work Fax (043)3340247
Roscommon
Lanesboro Street
52
Roscommon
Work Tel +353 (0)90 6626802
Work Fax +353 (0)90 6626746
Midlands South
Tipperary
DSP 2nd Floor
Harbour House
The Quay
Clonmel
Co Tipperary
Work Tel +353 (0)52 6170220
Work Fax +353 (052 6127179
Nenagh
79 Connolly Street
Nenagh
Co Tipperary
Work Tel +353 (0)6731879
Work Fax +353 (0)6731167
Kilkenny
Government Buildings
Hebron Road
Kilkenny
Work Tel (056) 7715100
Work Fax (056) 7752759
Portlaoise
JFL House
James Fintan Lawlor Ave
Portlaoise
Co Laois
Work Tel +353 (0)57 8632900
Work Fax +353 (0)57 8666485
Thurles
Friar St
Thurles
Co Tipperary
Work Tel +353 (0)504 22188
Work Fax +353 (0)504 23574
53
Tullamore
Castle Buildings
Tara St
Tullamore
Co Offaly
Work Tel 057 9318500
Work Fax 057 9322650
Mid Leinster
Bray Area Partnership LES
4 Prince of Wales Terrace
Quinsboro Road
Bray
Co Wicklow
Work Tel: +353 (0)1 286 8266
Work Fax: +353 (0)1 286 8700
Co. Kildare LES
28 Duke Street
Athy
Co Kildare
Work Tel: +353 (0)59 863 2685
Work Fax: + 353 (0)59 863 2677
C/o County Council Civic Offices
Blessington
Co Wicklow
Work Tel: +353 (0)
Work Fax: + 353 (0)
3 Bride Street
Kildare Town
Co Kildare
Work Tel: +353 (0)45 521 950
Work Fax: + 353 (0)45 521 680
Unit 5, Rathasker Square
Kilcullen Road
Naas
Co Kildare
Work Tel: +353 (0)45 895 555
Work Fax: + 353 (0)45 895 252
54
C/o Department of Social Protection
Employment Services Office
Main Street
Newbridge
Co Kildare
Work Tel: +353 (0)45 435 666
Work Fax: + 353 (0)45 435 687
Mid West
Limerick LES
Unit 2, The Tait Business Centre
Dominic Street
Limerick
Co. Limerick
Work Tel: +353 (0)61 412 999
Work Fax: +353 (0)61 316 678
Northside LES
Watch House Cross
Moyross
Limerick
Work Tel: +353 (0)61 327 788
Work Fax: +353 (0)61 327 288
St Marys
The Alms House
10 Nicholas Street
Limerick
Work Tel: +353 (0)61 411 656
Work Fax: +353 (0)61 401 799
Our Lady of Lourdes
Greenfields Cross
Rosbrien
Limerick
Work Tel: +353 (0)61 300 079
Work Fax: +353 (0)61 300 029
Southill House
Roxboro Road
Limerick
Work Tel: +353 (0)61 313 020
Work Fax: +353 (0)61 313 021
55
North East
Louth Leader LES
Work Space Centre
Mayoralty Street
Drogheda
Co Louth
Work Tel: +353 (0)41 984 4755
Work Fax: +353 (0)41 984 4766
Partnership Court
Park Street
Dundalk
Co Louth
Work Tel: +353 (0)42 932 8897
Work Fax: +353 (0)42 932 8898
Monaghan LES
Birch Court
Ballybay
Co. Monaghan
Work Tel: +353 (0)42 974 8090
The Workhouse
Carrickmacross
Co. Monaghan
Work Tel: +353 (0)42 966 4051
McCurtain Street
Clones
Co. Monaghan
Work Tel: +353 (0)47 72191
5 North Road
Monaghan
Co. Monaghan
Work Tel: +353 (0)47 72191
Work Fax: +353 (0)47 72188
North West
Ballybofey
Dunfril House
Ballybofey
Co Donegal
Work Tel +353 (0)74 9130384
56
Work Fax +353 (0)74 9131446
Buncrana
Mc Carters Road
Ardaravan
Buncrana
Co Donegal
Work Tel (074) 9364600
Work Fax (074) 9364545
Carrick-on Shannon
Leitrim Road
Carrick-on-Shannon
Work Tel (071) 9650070
Work Fax (071) 9621253
Gweedore
Ionad OiliUna
Na Doire Beaga
Letterkenny
Co Donegal
Work Tel +353 (0)74 9560500
Work Fax +353 (0)74 9531114
Letterkenny
Ballyraine Ind Est
Ramelton Road
Letterkenny
Co Donegal
Work Tel +353 (0)74 9120500
Work Fax +353 (0) 74 9124840
Sligo
Government Offices
Cranmore Road
Sligo
Work Tel (071) 9148200
Work Fax (071) 9145002
South East
County Waterford LES
Nano Nagle Resource Centre
Greenside
Carrick On Suir
Co Tipperary
57
Work Tel: +353 (0)51 649 516
Work Fax: +353 (0)51 649 517
Presentation Building
Mitchell Street
Dungarvan
Co Waterford
Work Tel: +353 (0)58 45750
Work Fax: +353 (0)58 45238
Lismore Business Park
Lismore
Co Waterford
Work Tel: +353 (0)58 54646/58025
Work Fax: +353 (0)58 54126
Waterford City LES
Westgate Retail Park
Tramore Road
Waterford
Co Waterford
Work Tel: +353 (0)51 304951
Work Fax: +353 (0)51 304952
41 John Street
Waterford
Co Waterford
Work Tel: +353 (0)51 844411
Work Fax: +353 (0)51 844530
Wexford Local Development LES
Block A
Spawell Road
Wexford
Co Wexford
Work Tel: +353 (0)53 915 5800
Work Fax: +353 (0)53 923 2278
Mill Park Road
Enniscorthy
Co Wexford
Work Tel: +353 (0)53 915 5864
Work Fax: +353 (0)53 9923 8420
Clonattin Corner
Coach Road
58
Gorey
Co Wexford
Work Tel: +353 (0)53 915 5852
Work Fax: +353 (0)53 915 5859
10 Mary Street
New Ross
Co Wexford
Work Tel: +353 (0)53 915 5885
Work Fax: +353 (0)51 420055
South West
South Kerry LES
West Main Street
Cahersiveen
Co. Kerry
Work Tel: +353 (0)66 947 3068
Work Fax: +353 (0)66 947 2725
First Floor
21 Henry Street
Kenmare
Co. Kerry
Work Tel: +353 (0)64 42444
Unit 1
Kenmare Place
Killarney
Co. Kerry
Work Tel: +353 (0)65 663 6966
Library Place
Killorglin
Co. Kerry
Work Tel: +353 (0)66 976 2444
Family Resource Centre
Sport Field Road
Sneem
Co. Kerry
Tralee LES
Units 1-2 North Circular Road
Tralee
Co. Kerry
Work Tel: +353 (0)66 712 9675
59
Work Fax: +353 (0)66 712 9473
West
Galway City LES
Ballybane Community Resource Centre
Ballybane
Galway City
Co Galway
Work Tel: +353 (0)91 768 306/768 304
Work Fax: +353 (0)
122 Bohermore
Galway City
Co Galway
Work Tel: +353 (0)91 566 617
Work Fax: +353 (0)91 566 618
Galway People Resource Center
St Clare’s Walk
Merchants Road
Galway City
Co Galway
Work Tel: +353 (0)91 566 617
Work Fax: +353 (0)91 566 618
Westside Resource Centre
Seamus Quirke Road
Westside
Galway City
Work Tel: +353 (0)91 581 955
Work Fax: +353 (0)91 583 248
Mayo LES
Achill Sound
Achill
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)98 45782
Work Fax: +353 (0)98 45837
Unit 2 Ridgepool Village
Ballina
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)96 73063
Work Fax: +353 (0)96 73067
New Street
60
Ballinrobe
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)94 954 2169
Work Fax: +353 (0)94 952 0097
Clare Road
Ballyhaunis
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)94 963 0080
Work Fax: +353 (0)94 963 2075
Co-op Buildings
Chapel Street
Belmullet
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)97 81722
Work Fax: +353 (0)97 81722
Mosaic Center, Harlequin Plaza
Garvey Way
Castlebar
Co. Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)94 902 6468
Work Fax: +353 (0)94 902 6469
Social Services Centre
Dalton Street
Claremorris
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)94 936 2757
Work Fax: +353 (0)94 937 2148
Chapel Street
Swinford
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)94 925 2657
Work Fax: +353 (0)94 925 3030
Riverview House
North Mall
Westport
Co Mayo
Work Tel: +353 (0)98 28583
Work Fax: +353 (0)98 28694
61
Appendix 4 :
Area Managers(APs) responsible for Disability Employment Supports in
Employment Services
South East:
Con Quinlan (AP) Tel: 051-332017
E-mail Con.Quinlan@ welfare.ie
North East:
Dundalk & North Louth
Anne Keeley Tel: 042- 9392600
E-mail anne.keeley@welfare.ie
Drogheda & South Louth
Margaret Cranny Tel: 041- 9871130
E-mail Margaret.cranney@welfare.ie
Co Monaghan
Jim Manning Tel: 042- 9336134
E-mail jim.manning@welfare.ie
Co Cavan
Kathleen Sheridan Tel: 049- 4379170
E-mail Kathleen.sheridan@welfare.ie
North West
Donegal
Des Gallen Tel: 074- 9164554
E-mail Des.Gallen@welfare.ie
Donegal North
Frank Dillon Tel: 074-9164552
E-mail Frank.dillon@welfare.ie
Donegal South
Liam Breen Tel: 074-9131154
E-mail Liam.Breen@welfare.ie
62
Sligo
Fintan Hanson Tel: 071-9140532
E-mail fintan.hanson@welfare.ie
Leitrim
Eugene Walsh Tel: 071-9820034
E-mail Eugene.walsh@welfare.ie
Mid West:
Co Clare
Mary Moloney Tel: 065-6862835
E-mail mary.moleney@welfare.ie
Limerick City
Maura Corbett Tel: 061-217940
E-mail maura.corbett@welfare.ie
Limerick County
Catherine Hurley Tel: 061-1436022
E-mail Catherine.hurley@welfare.ie
West
Regina Higgins (AP) Tel: 091-500895
Tel: 0879617003
E-mail regina.higgins@welfare.ie
Midlands
Christy Todd Tel: 057-9318579
E-mail Christy.todd@welfare.ie
John Amerlynck (AP) Tel: 057-9318507
E-mail john.amerlynck@welfare.ie
Midlands Nth
Meath
John Kealy (AP) Tel: 086-6099047
E-mail John.Kealy@welfare.ie
63
Westmeath
Michael Kearney (AP) Tel: 0872848829
E-mail Michael.kearney@welfare.ie
Athlone
Kevin Macken (AP) Tel: 090-6449358
E-mail Kevin.Macken@welfare.ie
Longford
Aine Bohan (AP) Tel: 071-9672597
E-mail aine.bohan@welfare.ie
Roscommon
Maura Corcoran (AP) Tel: 0906632946
E-mail maura.corcoran@welfare.ie
Midlands Sth
Nenagh
Adrian Cunneen (AP) Tel: 067-50919
E-mail Adrian.cunneen@welfare.ie
Dublin Central
Intreo Navan Road
Celia Flynn Tel: 01-8823134
E-mail Celia.Flynn@welfare.ie
D’Olier St
Rory Murphy Tel: 01-6124854
E-mail Rory.Murphy@welfare.ie
Intreo Parnell St
Elaine Quinn Tel: 01-8899515
E-mail Elaine.quinn@welfare.ie
Intreo Blanchardstown
Rita Tighe Tel: 01-8581351
E-mail Rita.Tighe@welfare.ie
64
SWLO Bishops Sq Dublin 2
Billy Hicks Tel: 087-2455530
E-mail Billy.Hicks@welfare.ie
Ballinteer Dublin 16
Padraig O Siochru Tel: 01-2164510
E-mail Padraig-OSiochru@welfare.ie
Parnell St Dublin 1
Leon Quigley Tel: 01-8044642
E-mail Leon.Quigley@welfare.ie
65