New Income Protection Plan
The Garda Representative Association endeavours to improve the services available to its members. The Association requested its Insurance Broker, Penpro Consultants, to search the market for a scheme to assist members suffering from loss of earnings as a result of sick leave. Earlier this year, Penpro proposed an Income Protection Plan which was approved by the Central Executive Committee. The Underwriters are Friends First.

Conditions
Payment of benefit commences after 13 weeks from the date the member goes on sick leave and is paid for a period of 18 months. Benefit will be paid for a further 42 months or, if earlier, up to the earliest date at which a member can retire, if the member continues to be certified by a medical practitioner to be unfit to perform normal duties.

A member who returns to work on light duties and suffers a reduction in full normal earnings will be paid a proportionate benefit.

A member who is paid a benefit and returns to work will continue to be covered under the Plan. No benefit is paid in respect of a member who is injured on duty.

The Plan came into effect on 1 June 2007 & has been reviewed - with improved Benefits - in April 2011.

Benefits
Update 01/05/11: The Association has negotiated increased plan benefits of €230 per week (up from € 150.00 per week) with no increase in premium, to partly replace loss in earnings. Similar to earnings the benefit is taxed.

The tax rate will depend on individual circumstances but the likelihood is that for the first 39 weeks of payment the benefit will be taxed at 41% and thereafter at 20%.

Cost
Gross premium: €4.90 per week (premium qualifies for full tax and PRSI relief )

Net premium: €2.89 per week for a member who joined before April 2005 & €2.60 per week for a member who joined after April 2005

The premium will be deducted from your pay at source and tax relief will be by way of a top line deduction.

Who is entitled to join the Plan?
Members of the Garda Representative Association are entitled to join the Plan and on promotion may continue to be a member of the Plan.

Why is Permanent Health Insurance important to members?
Your sick pay is on a reducing scale i.e. half pay after 6 months and pension rate of pay after 12 months.

When you are not working, rostered earnings (approx 20% of basic pay) cease and after 12 months pension rate of pay applies.

Rent allowance is also subject to half and pension rate similar to basic pay.

As you will note from the following tables the reduction in earnings, particularly after 12 months, is severe.

If you wish to join the plan members should complete the shortened proposal form and return it to GRA Office, Floor 5, Phibsboro Tower, Dublin 7. Based on members’ answers to medical questions, further underwriting may be required. A comprehensive booklet will be provided to all members who join the Plan.

Benefit and Premium Review
The initial benefit and premium assumes that a representative profile across all ages of members will join the Plan. The benefit and premium will be reviewed after one year. It is recognised that a higher level of benefit would be desirable in the first instance. The hope is that based on the experience of the Plan the level of benefit provided can be increased at an acceptable cost.

Members who join the Plan will have peace of mind knowing that their salary is protected to some extent in the event that they are absent from work due to illness for more than a thirteen week period. This is particularly the case for members with short service.

The Association recommends this Plan to our members – the net cost to you is €2.60 p.w. for members who joined the Force after 6 April 1995 or €2.89 p.w. for members who joined before 6 April 1995. The long term success of this Plan will depend on the support of all members of the GRA.