Max rate 2026
€254 a week
€264 from January 2027
Most people who are hurt at work claim Illness Benefit, or claim nothing. Injury Benefit is a different payment under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, and the journey to and from work counts — which is the part almost nobody knows.
Quick facts
- Max rate 2026
- €254 (€264 from January 2027) a week
- Adult dependant
- +€168.60 (€175.20 from January 2027)
- How long
- Up to 26 weeks
- Waiting days
- First 3 days unpaid
- Deadline
- Apply within 6 weeks
How much is Injury Benefit in 2026?
A maximum personal rate of €254 a week, from 5 January 2026, with €168.60 for an adult dependant.
For children it is €58 (€64 from January 2027) full rate or €29 half rate under 12, and €78 (€84 from January 2027) full rate or €39 half rate at 12 and over.
What counts as a work accident?
Three things qualify: an accident at work, an occupational disease from the work you do, and the one people miss — “An accident while travelling directly to or from work (on an unbroken journey)”.
That commute rule is worth reading twice. If you came off your bike on the way to work, or were hit in a car on the way home, that is an occupational accident. Unbroken journey is the condition: stopping off on the way breaks it.
The 3-day rule, and why to report it anyway
“To get Injury Benefit, you must be unfit for work for more than 3 days as a result of the accident or disease. The 3 days do not include Sundays and paid holiday leave.”
If you are out for 3 days or less you get nothing now — but you can still ask for a declaration that you had an occupational accident. Do it. If that injury causes problems years later, the declaration is what protects your right to claim then. A file note today is worth more than an argument in 2031.
How long does it run?
“Injury Benefit is not paid for the first 3 days of your illness or incapacity… You can get Injury Benefit for up to 26 weeks (6 months).”
If you are still unable to work at 26 weeks, the next steps are Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance. And if the accident left you with a lasting loss of physical or mental ability, Disablement Benefit is a separate claim on top.
The 6-week deadline
“You should apply for Injury Benefit within 6 weeks of becoming unfit for work. If you apply after 6 weeks, you may not get the payment.”
You need an IB1 claim form from your doctor and a Certificate of Incapacity for Work. Six weeks passes very quickly when you are injured and dealing with an employer, so if you are unsure whether you qualify, put the claim in anyway.
How to claim Injury Benefit
Get the IB1 claim form from your doctor
Your doctor gives you the Injury Benefit claim form, called IB1.
Get a medical certificate from your doctor
You also need a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from your doctor.
Send your form by Freepost
Post your completed form to the Injury Benefit Section, with your certificate if it was not sent online.
Send a certificate every week
Keep sending a medical certificate every week for as long as you cannot work.
Ask for a final certificate before you go back
Your doctor should mark your last certificate as final before you return to work.
Off 3 days or less? Still register a claim
You can still register a claim, which keeps a record of the injury in case problems come later.
Time limit: Apply within 6 weeks of becoming unfit for work, or you may not get the payment.
Phone, forms and how long it takes
- Injury Benefit Section
- (01) 704 3300 or 0818 928 400
- Injury Benefit Section
- illnessbenefit@welfare.ie, OIB@welfare.ie
- Tell them you are back at work
- ClosemyIBclaim@welfare.ie
- Claim form (from your doctor)
- form IB1
- Send the form to
- Injury Benefit Section, Department of Social Protection, PO Box 1650, Dublin 1
- How long a decision takes
- Occupational Injury Benefit averaged 1 week at the end of August 2026. The target is 90% in 1 week.
- Time limit to appeal
- You have 60 days from the date on the decision letter to appeal.
- How to appeal
- You can appeal online on MyWelfare if you have a verified MyGovID account.
From the official pages (citizensinformation.ie, gov.ie, data.oireachtas.ie), re-checked every night. Numbers and times can change, so check the official page before you send anything.
Common questions
How much is Injury Benefit in Ireland in 2026?
Up to €254 (€264 from January 2027) a week as the maximum personal rate from 5 January 2026, plus €168.60 (€175.20 from January 2027) for an adult dependant. For children it is €58 (€64 from January 2027) full rate or €29 half rate under 12, and €78 (€84 from January 2027) or €39 at 12 and over.
Does an accident on the way to work count?
Yes. Citizens Information lists 'an accident while travelling directly to or from work (on an unbroken journey)' as qualifying. The journey has to be unbroken — stopping off on the way breaks it.
How long is Injury Benefit paid for?
Up to 26 weeks, which is six months. The first 3 days are not paid. If you are still unable to work at the end of it, you may move to Illness Benefit, Disability Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
What if I was only off work for two days?
You will not get Injury Benefit, because you must be unfit for work for more than 3 days. But you should still ask for a declaration that you had an occupational accident. It protects your right to claim under the scheme if that injury causes problems later.
Is there a deadline to claim Injury Benefit?
Yes — six weeks from becoming unfit for work. Citizens Information says that if you apply after 6 weeks, you may not get the payment.
Do I need PRSI contributions like Illness Benefit?
Injury Benefit sits under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme rather than the ordinary PRSI illness rules, so the qualifying conditions are different. If you were turned down for Illness Benefit on your contribution record, it is worth checking this separately.