Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 46C

Duration

Section 46C sets out the maximum duration for which partial capacity benefit can be paid and the circumstances in which this period may be shortened or extended.

• The standard maximum payment period is 156 weeks, though regulations may prescribe shorter periods depending on the claimant's capacity for work.
• Where a person qualifies through remaining illness benefit entitlement, their partial capacity benefit is limited to whichever is shorter: the 156-week maximum or their remaining illness benefit period.
• If the illness benefit route applies but the person immediately qualifies for invalidity pension when that entitlement ends, payment may continue—but the total period still cannot exceed 156 weeks.
• At pensionable age, payment normally stops unless the person was born on or after 1 January 1958, qualified via illness benefit, and has notified the Minister of their wish to continue receiving benefit.