Medical cards and unemployment

If you’re unemployed and returning to full or part-time work, you can keep your medical card for 3 years (from the date you start work) as long as you’ve been getting one of the following allowances or benefits for 12 months or more:

• Jobseeker's Benefit

• Jobseeker's Allowance

• Illness Benefit

• Invalidity Pension

• Disability Allowance

• Blind Pension or

• Have been on an employment incentive scheme or educational opportunity scheme