Senior Citizens Guide

Senior Citizens Guide

Colm

BROPHY TD Medical Card / GP Visit Card

Grants for Home Improvements

To qualify for a medical card your weekly income must be below a certain level for your family size.

Cash income, savings, investments and property (except for your own home) are taken into account for the means test. If you do not qualify for a medical card on income grounds you may qualify for a GP visit card.

Housing Aid for Older People Scheme

People under age 70: Weekly income limit (Gross earnings less PRSI, USC and income tax) Single person living alone Medical Card GP Visit Card Aged 66 – 69 Single person living with family Aged 66 – 69 Couples Aged 66-69

€201.50

€302.00

Medical Card GP Visit Card €173.50

€260.00

Medical Card GP Visit Card €298.00

€447.00

People over 70: weekly income limit (gross income) Medical Card weekly income limited is €500/€900 for a single person/couple. The GP Visit Card is available to everyone aged over 70 without a means test.

Prescription Charges Most medical card holders pay €2.00 per prescription item with a monthly ceiling of €20.00 per person or family.

Forms and information are available from HSE National Medical Card Unit.

Tel: (051) 595 129 or www.medicalcard.ie

The Housing Aid for Older People Scheme is used to improve the condition of an older person’s home. It is for people aged 66 and over living in poor housing conditions to carry out works such as re-roofing, re-wiring and provision of central heating where none exists.

This is means tested.

To apply, contact South Dublin County Council.

Tel: (01) 4149000

Mobility Aids Housing Grant The Mobility Aids Housing Grant is designed for works to address mobility problems in the home primarily, but not exclusively. These include installation of grab rails, level access showers, access ramps or stair lifts. This is means tested.

To apply, contact South Dublin County Council.

Tel: (01) 4149000

Home Insulation Scheme The Home Insulation Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes of people with low incomes. This is operated by the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) and is means tested.

To apply, contact SEAI. Tel: 1850 927 000

Senior Citizens Guide

Colm BROPHY TD Payments for Carers Maximum Personal rate (weekly)

Payment

Caring for 1 person Caring for 2 or more

Carer’s Benefit (PRSI Based) is a short term payment of up to 24 months for people who give up employment to care on a full time bases for someone who requires full time care.

€215.00

€322.50

Carer’s Allowance Means Tested Is a payment for people who are caring on a full time bases for people who need full time care and attention and require it for at least 12 months.

Carer aged UNDER 66 €214.00 €321.00 Carer aged OVER 66 €252.00 €378.00 A half carer’s allowance may be paid in addition to an existing social welfare payment Carer’s Support Grant (formerly called Respite Care Grant) €1,700.00 annually per person cared for

Payments for Older People Claimant State Pension (Contributory) (PRSI)

€243.30

Qualified Partner/Spouse Under 66

66 and over

€162.10

€218.00

Reduced rates apply if your yearly average of PRSI contribution is less than 48 State Pension (non-Contributory) (Means tested) Centenarian Bounty

€232.00

€153.30

€2540.00 paid by the Office of the President

Household Benefits Package

Electricity or Natural Gas allowance: €35.00 per month Television Licence: Free

Fuel Allowance (with specific conditions) Telephone Allowance (with specific conditions)

€22.50 Payable for 27 weeks €2.50 per week from June 2018

Payments for Widow/ers and Surviving Civil Partners Payment Widow’s/Widower’s /Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension (Contributory) (PRSI based)

Maximum Personal rate (weekly) Under 66 66 and under 80 €203.50 €243.30

Reduced rates may apply, depending on your (or your late Spouse’s or civil partner’s) PRSI contribution record.

Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving civil Partner’s €198.00 Pension (Non Contributory) means tested FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE BELOW: Intreo Office, The Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Tel: (01) 462 9400 (Covers D24)

Intreo Office, Bishop’s Square, Redmond’s Hill, Dublin 2, Tel: (01) 4763500

Intreo Office, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, Tel: (01) 6732000

(Covers D6, D6W & D12)

(Covers D14 & D16)

Senior Citizens Guide FairDeal The Nursing Homes Support Scheme, also known as the “Fair Deal”, provides financial support to people who need long term nursing home care.

There are 3 steps in the application process: 1. An Application for a Care Needs Assessment which is carried out by a Health Care Professional Appointed by the HSE. 2. An Application for State Support. The information that you give will be used to complete the Financial Assessment.

3. An optional application for the Nursing Home Loan.

Having looked at your income and assets, the Financial Assessment will work out your contributions to care. You will contribute:

At the moment, the only statutory scheme for older people is the Nursing Home Support Scheme (Fair Deal).

The Minister for Health and his Department is currently working to develop a scheme that will allow people who chose to remain in their own homes.

• 80% of assessable income (i.e. after deduction of tax, PRSI, mortgage/rent and out of pocket medical expenses) • Plus 7.5% per annum of the value of any assets. However the first €36,000 for an individual or €72,000 for a couple will not be counted at all in the financial assessment.

When your assets include land and property, the 7.5% contribution based on such assets may be deferred and paid to Revenue after your death. This is known as the Nursing Home Loan.

Your principal residence will only be included in the financial assessment for the first three years of your time in care, to a maximum of 22.5%.

After 3 years, even if you are still getting long term nursing home care, you will not pay any further contribution based on your principal residence. However all other assets will be taken into account for as long as you are in care.

Contact your local Health Centre for a Care Needs Assessment www.hse.ie Dublin South West Local Health Office, Old County Road Health Centre, Crumlin, Dublin 12. Tel: (01) 415 4700 Dublin South City Local Health Office, City Lodge, Old Meath Hospital, Heytsbury Street, Dublin 8. Tel: (01) 7077921

Tax Bands 20% tax rate Single/widowed/surviving civil partner – no dependent children

€34,550.00

Single/widowed/surviving civil partner qualifying for single person child carer tax credit

€38,550.00

Married couple/civil partners – one spouse/civil partner with income

€43,550.00

Married couple/civil partners two incomes

€69,100.00

A tax rate of 40% applies to the balance Age Exemption: Persons aged 65 or over are exempt from income tax if their gross incomes from all sources is under €18,000 (single), €36,000 (married).

CONTACT: www.revenue.ie Lo-Call 1890 240 424

Your Intreo Centre and Local Social Welfare Offices contact details Intreo Office, The Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

(01) 462 9400

Intreo Office, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, (01) 6732000

(Covers D6, D6W & D12)

(Covers D14 & D16)

Postal VotesW

Additional Information

Postal voting is available in certain circumstances: Persons living at home and who have a physical illness or physical disability which prevents them from going to a polling station to vote may apply for entry on the postal voter list by completing form PV1 (see forms).

Free Travel

South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Tel: (01) 4149000

The Free Travel Pass is available to people aged 66 and over. This allows you free travel on public transport and on a number of private bus and ferry services. It also allows you Free Travel to Northern Ireland.

Free Travel cardholders wishing to avail of the All Ireland Free Travel scheme within Northern Ireland must first get a Senior SmartPass card.

Lo-call 1890 500 5000 or www.welfare.ie

Your local Fine Gael team Cllr Paula Donovan

Cllr Brian Lawlor

Rathfarnham Ward Email: pdonovan@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 220 0741

Templeogue-Terenure Ward Email: blawlor@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 644 5472

Cllr Conor McMahon

Brian Hayes MEP

Rathfarnham Ward Email: cmcmahon@cllrs.sdublincoco.ie Tel: 087 765 2302

Dublin Email: Brian.hayes@ep.europa.eu Tel: 01 209 6548

Disclaimer - The information supplied in this leaflet is for information purposes only and is not intended to take the place of professional advice. Colm Brophy TD is not responsible for any omissions or errors contained within this booklet.

Colm

BROPHY TD Dáil Éireann, Leinster House, Kildare St, D02 A272.

Tel: 01-6183196

Email: colm.brophy@oireachtas.ie @brophytalks ColmBrophyFineGael

0612

(Covers D24)

Intreo Office, Bishop’s Square, Redmond’s Hill, Dublin 2, (01) 4763500