If you are too ill to work, and provided you have paid sufficient social insurance contributions (PRSI and/or National Insurance contributions) you can apply for Illness Benefit from the Department of Social Protection.  For further information please visit the Department for Social Protection / Illness  Benefit 

Cross-border applications

Social security coordination rules between the UK and Ireland protect the rights of people as they move between the jurisdictions to live or work.  The place that a person last worked and paid social insurance, or where they are currently employed is usually the jurisdiction that is responsible for their illness/sickness benefits.

Notably, if you are self-employed in the South, paying Class S PRSI contributions you will not be eligible for Illness Benefit.

If you work in the South but your doctor is based in the North please follow the following steps:

1. 1. Obtain a sickness certificate from your doctor
   2. Email illnessbenefit@welfare.ie (or write a letter) explaining that you wish to claim Illness Benefit, include your contact details and PPS number and enclose the doctor’s certificate.
   3. If using post, please keep a complete copy for your own records and post the originals to the address below
   4. DSP will open a claim for you and forward the IB1 claim form for you to complete.

Illness Benefit
Department of Social Protection
P.O. Box 1650
Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel: (01) 704 3300 or 0818 928 400
Homepage: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/ddf6e3-illness-benefit/
Email: illnessbenefit@welfare.ie

If your application is declined due to insufficient PRSI contributions, you can ask that your record National Insurance contributions be considered.  

See also:

• Citizens Information – Illness Benefit
• DSP Illness Benefit Operational Guidelines (the section titled CLAIMS is particularly relevant to cross-border claims) 
• Border People – Invalidity Pension
• Border People – Sickness Benefits (Competent State issues)

Page last checked: February 2024

This webpage is for general information purposes only and while we endeavour to keep it up-to-date, errors may occur. It is very important that you check with the relevant body to ensure the information is current and is applicable to your situation.

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