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Dental benefit
Keeping your chompers healthy.
We all want to keep our gnashers healthy, but visiting the dentist can be expensive, especially if we have to worry about money for college fees/bills/rent/food.
If you pay PRSI however, you may be entitled to take part in The Treatment Benefit Scheme, as long as you have paid a certain number of PRSI contributions. The amount of contributions you must have paid to qualify depends on your age and whether you are on any form of social welfare.
The scheme is run by the Department of Social Protection and it covers one free dental examination per year. You can get a list of participating dentist from the Department of Social Protection's offices. You then just need to fill in a forum with various details, such as your PPS number.
If you have a medical card, you are also entitled to more comprehensive dental services – free amalgam fillings and a yearly check-up, for example. White fillings are not free on the medical card.
You may be entitled to more comprehensive services (besides the annual check up) if you have a medical card or are in receipt of any of the following benefits:
- Invalidity pension
- Career’s allowance
- Illness Benefit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Benefit
You may also qualify if you are on a Community Employment Scheme, a Back to Work Scheme, a Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme or a Community Employment Development Programme.
If you do not have enough contributions, but your spouse does, you may qualify under his/her social insurance record.
You may also be entitled to tax relief on certain dental procedures.
How to apply:
You will need to fill out form D1 if you are applying for dental services under the Treatment Benefit Scheme (form D2 if you are a dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant). Forms are available from your dentist, as well as your local Department of Social Protection
Click here to go to the welfare.ie info on the scheme.
