Keeping your Medical Card and other entitlements when you find a job!

If you are returning to work after a break for whatever reasons, you may need to consider a few things before you jump right in!

Well firstly, if you're looking for a job check out our listings and if you're on Social Media follow us, as we share information relevant to jobs in your area everyday.

There are also lots of local services such as Jobs Centres, Intreo and Social Welfare Offices that can advise regarding your CV and work preparation schemes to help you with your transition.

But will you lose out by taking up Work?

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection also have an on-line estimator that will help you assess the financial consequences of taking up full-time work - this is important. The Benefit of Work Estimator is a user friendly tool that gives an indication of the difference between your potential in-work and your current out-of-work payments based on information provided by you.  The Reckoner works out the total amount you would receive on taking up full-time work (including any Working Family Payment) and compares this to what you are getting in jobseeker payments (including Rent Supplement).

What about your Medical Card and Rent Supplements?

If you are unemployed you may be able to retain your medical card or Rent Supplement when you take up employment.

If you are unemployed and you are returning to full-time or part-time work, you can keep your medical card for 3 years provided you have been getting a full-rate payment for one of the following allowances or benefits for 12 months or more:

• Jobseeker's Benefit
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Illness Benefit
• Invalidity Pension
• Disability Allowance
• Blind Pension or
• Have been on an employment incentive scheme or educational opportunity scheme

If you take up full-time employment you will retain your medical card for 3 years from the date you start work. If you take up part-time employment the 3-year period starts from the date your income exceeds the relevant medical card guideline - further details can be found on hse.ie about this.

Rent Supplement

If you have been unemployed or not in full-time employment for at least 12 months and are assessed as in need of housing under the Rental Accommodation Scheme you may be entitled to retain your Rent Supplement or part of it.

Differential rents and returning to work

If you are renting from a local authority or housing association, your rent is calculated using the local authority differential rents system. This system is based on your household’s weekly income and your ability to pay. So, if your income increases when you return to work, you must inform the local authority or housing association and you may be asked for a higher contribution towards the rent.

If you are a private tenant on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, your rent contribution is calculated in a similar way and you will have to notify the local authority when your income changes.

If you have children:

• You may be able to keep your Increase for a Qualified Child payment for 13 weeks. Alternatively, if you are taking up a low-paid job, you may qualify for Working Family Payment (WFP)
• The Back to Work Family Dividend is available for lone parent and long-term jobseeker families with children return to work. It can be paid in addition to WFP.
• A number of affordable childcare schemes provide childcare for families on lower incomes and aim to support parents to return to work or education.

There's lots of information about the above and many other topics that will help you on the Citizens Information Website, HSE, Revenue.ie, welfare.ie and the inou.ie - best of luck

For jobs go here: https://www.jobalert.ie/jobs