Workers in County Kildare urged to avail of Treatment Benefit Scheme

Workers across the county are being urged by a TD to avail of the Treatment Benefit Scheme.

Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon is encouraging workers in Kildare to look at their entitlements under the Treatment Benefit Scheme, where they can avail of free dental examinations, eyesight checks and hearing tests.

The Kildare South-based politician said: "Under the Treatment Benefit scheme, dental, optical, and aural services are provided to insured employees, the self-employed and retired people, who have the required number of qualifying PRSI contributions.

"People can avail of a range of treatments, either free or part funded.

"Furthermore, contributors that have suffered hair loss due to treatment of cancer or certain types of alopecia can avail of a €500 grant towards the purchase of a hair replacement product."

Mr Heydon added that almost 1.2 million people across the country have benefitted from the scheme so far this year.

He concluded: "In 2022, Minister Heather Humphreys changed the insurance contributions required for younger workers to make it easier for them to qualify, so I would especially urge anyone who is working and aged under 25 to look at their entitlements, to make sure they are not missing out."

Martin Heydon TD is aligned with Fine Gael. File photograph.

Under the Treatment Benefit Scheme, a person may qualify for:

• Dental benefit – A free annual oral examination and a payment of €42 towards either a scale and polish, or periodontal treatment, once a calendar year. If the cost of either cleaning or periodontal treatment is more than €42, the customer must pay the balance - capped at €15 for a scale and polish. There is no cap on the balance charged for periodontal treatment.
• Optical benefit - Free eyesight test every 2 years and an allowance towards glasses, contact lenses medical lenses and repairs.
• Hearing aids - Maximum grant of €500 per hearing aid every four years (€1,000 for a pair), also a grant of up to €100 per aid for cost of repairs every four years.
• Hair replacement products / Wigs - Maximum grant of €500 per product annually. The payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to treatment of cancer or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product.

Further information in relation to the Treatment Benefit Scheme and it’s qualifying conditions is available at gov - Treatment Benefit Scheme (www.gov.ie).