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Know
your rights - July 2004
- Q.I understand there is a new organisation that deals
with compensation claims following an accident at work. How do I claim
compensation?
- A. The Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB) is a new statutory
body set up to provide independent assessment of personal injury compensation
for those involved in workplace, motoring or public liability accidents.
From June 2004 all claims for compensation involving workplace accidents
must be submitted to the PIAB before taking out legal proceedings. This
will be extended to other type of accidents in due course.
If you feel you are entitled to compensation you should make a claim
directly to the party that injured you. If you fail to reach a settlement
you must submit your claim to the PIAB.
You apply to the PIAB on an application form which is available on their
website or from their Helpline at LoCall 1890 829 121.
With your application form you should send the following:
Medical report form completed by the doctor treating you (When your
case is settled you will receive €150 towards the cost of the report).
Copies of any correspondence between you and your employer relating
to the accident.
Confirmation from your employer of your loss of earnings.
Receipts for any other financial loss you may have incurred.
Any other correspondence or documentation relevant to your claim.
A cheque or postal order for €50 made payable to the PIAB. (You
can also pay by credit card).
Your application should be sent to the PIAB at PO Box 8, Clonakilty,
Co. Cork. When the PIAB receives your complete application form and
other documentation you will be sent a letter explaining the next steps.
If your employer wishes to argue legal issues you will be given an Authorisation
allowing you to take your case to court, subject to the Statute of Limitations.
If there are no legal issues, an Assessor will be assigned to your case
who determines the award. You have 28 days to decide if you will accept
the award. If you do not accept the award you will be authorised to
take the case to court if you wish.
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre
.
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- Q. A friend of mine from Northern Ireland is hoping
to get work as a shop assistant in the south while still living in the
north. Where does he pay his tax and social welfare contributions?
- A. Your friend may have to pay tax in the north if he has other income
in the north, however, he will pay tax on the income from his job down
here and not in Northern Ireland. He will receive the full standard
personal tax credits in the south provided at least 75% of his income
is taxable here.
Under a Double Taxation Agreement with the UK he will not have to pay
tax on the same income again in the north. If he is liable for tax on
other income in the north he will receive a tax credit for the tax he
has already paid in the south. If he has no income in the north he will
not have to pay any tax there.
He will also pay his Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) Contributions
down here which will entitle him to certain benefits.
He will need a Personal Public Service Number (PPS No.) which he can
obtain through a local Social Welfare Office down here. He will require
the following when he is applying for it:
Current valid Passport or Birth Certificate (long form preferred) and
valid photographic ID e.g. Full Driving Licence, Employment ID (with
photo).
Evidence of either work, social welfare claim, residency, tax liability
or education history in Northern Ireland.
Evidence of his address.
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre.
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- Q. I heard that there is a Back to School Allowance.
What is it?
- A. You are probably referring to the Back to School Clothing and
Footwear Allowance which is a special payment for parents to assist
with the costs of children's school uniforms and footwear at the beginning
of the school year. It may be claimed for a child aged 18-22 in full-time
education for whom a Child Dependant Increase is payable.
Families claiming a social welfare payment (including Family Income
Supplement) or a Health Board payment are eligible for this scheme if
their income is below certain thresholds as follows:
| |
Lone Parent |
Couple |
| 1 Child |
€238.90 |
€348.10 |
| 2 Children |
€260.50 |
€367.40 |
| 3 Children |
€282.10 |
€386.70 |
| 4 Children |
€303.70 |
€406.00 |
| Each additional child |
€21.60 |
€19.30 |
Those taking part in a Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
or in receipt of Back to Education Allowance are also eligible. The
allowance is also available to people on employment schemes such as
Community Employment, Back to Work Allowance, and Revenue Job Assist
who retain their secondary benefits, (i.e. gross weekly household income
is less than €317.43). If they do not meet this condition they
can apply under the normal income limits.
The allowance is €80 for each child aged 2-11 and €150 for
each child aged 12-22.
The Scheme runs from 1st June to 30th September and is administered
by the Health Board as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.
Families should apply to the Community Welfare Officer at their local
Health Centre.
Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre
below.
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