Illness Benefit

Updated for 2026 DSP rates.

What is Illness Benefit?

Illness Benefit is a contributory weekly payment for people who are unable to work due to illness and have enough PRSI contributions. It is paid by the DSP for a maximum of 2 years (624 days).

2026 Weekly Rates

PRSI Contribution Requirements

To qualify, you must:

• Have at least 104 PRSI contributions paid at Class A, E, H, or P since starting work
• Have at least 39 PRSI contributions paid or credited in the relevant tax year (the year before you claim)

Important: If you are self-employed (Class S), you do NOT qualify for Illness Benefit. Self-employed people may qualify for the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme instead.

Duration

Illness Benefit is paid for a maximum of 624 days (2 years). After that, you may qualify for:

• Invalidity Pension — a long-term payment if your illness is expected to last at least 12 months
• Disability Allowance — a means-tested payment for people with a long-term disability

How to Claim

You should claim on the first day you are ill. Apply online at MyWelfare.ie. You will need:

• Your PPS number
• A medical certificate from your GP (a 'sick cert') covering your first 3 days of illness
• Further medical certificates for ongoing illness

There is a waiting period of 3 days — Illness Benefit is not paid for the first 3 days you are ill. These days do not count towards the 624-day limit.

Medical Certification

You must provide medical certificates at regular intervals:

• For the first 2 weeks: a GP cert is required for each week
• After 2 weeks: a GP cert is required every 13 weeks (or more often at the DSP's discretion)
• Your GP may charge a fee for medical certificates

Important Notes

• Illness Benefit is taxable — Revenue will deduct tax where applicable
• You may be entitled to Illness Benefit if you contract COVID-19 and need to self-isolate
• If you are in hospital, Illness Benefit can still be paid

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2026 rate changes and how the payment works

Budget 2026 increased Illness Benefit by €10 to €254 per week (with an Increase for a Qualified Adult of €168.60 and Child Support Payments of €58/€78). It is paid for the first 3 days of illness (waiting days are not paid), and claims are made by getting a medical certificate from your GP and applying at mywelfare.ie. You should apply on the first day you are ill — if you claim late, you can still get payment from the date your claim is registered, but delay can cost you. Since January 2024, employers must provide 5 days of statutory sick pay per year; you cannot get Illness Benefit for days covered by sick pay, so Illness Benefit effectively starts on day 6 for most employees (or day 4 if you have used your sick-pay days).

How long Illness Benefit lasts

The maximum duration depends on your contribution record: 260 or more PRSI contributions since you started work gives 2 years (624 days) of Illness Benefit; 104-259 contributions gives 1 year (312 days). Claims made within 26 weeks of a previous claim are treated as one continuous claim. Near the end of your entitlement the DSP will write to you about your options: Invalidity Pension (a long-term payment where incapacity is expected to last 12+ months), Disability Allowance (a means-tested payment for people with a long-term disability), or Supplementary Welfare Allowance. If your illness improves, you can return to work and requalify after building up 13 new paid contributions.

Partial Capacity Benefit and returning to work

After 6 months on Illness Benefit, you can apply for Partial Capacity Benefit, which lets you return to work while keeping a reduced payment based on your assessed capacity. You cannot work at all while on full Illness Benefit, and you must not start any work, training or education without written DSP approval. Illness Benefit is taxable: Revenue deducts tax through your payment, so if your only income is Illness Benefit you may get a refund at year-end through myAccount.

PRSI credits while you are ill

Even if you do not qualify for Illness Benefit (for example, if you do not have enough contributions), apply anyway — if you are medically certified unfit for work, you can build up PRSI credited contributions that protect your future State Pension (Contributory) and other benefits. A year of illness without credits can cost you pension entitlements decades later; a year with credits does not. This is one of the most valuable and least-known features of the scheme.

Action steps

• Get a medical certificate from your GP on day 1 and apply online the same day.
• Keep submitting certificates on time — lapses in certification interrupt your claim.
• If your claim is refused, appeal within 21 days (or ask for a review first).
• After 6 months, ask the DSP about Partial Capacity Benefit if you can do some work.
• Check your PRSI record after your claim ends to confirm credits were awarded.