Conference Report 2016

Section 4: Benefits for Members
IllNESS/INjuRy SChEmE
Enhanced Benefits
An added benefit of GRA membership is the payment of
€75 per week if a member suffers illness or an injury
sustained off duty for more than five weeks up to 13
weeks. This cost-free benefit, if taken with the Income
Protection Scheme can abate the hardship caused by
loss of earnings through illness and injury.
CONDITIONS Of ThE SChEmE
1. The Association will normally pay from its funds and
on an ex gratia basis the sum of €75.00 per week
for up to thirteen weeks to members who are
medically certified as being unfit for duty through
absences for extended periods.
Benefit is payable for up to 13 weeks in respect of
any one specific illness over a two year period (to
the end of the 18th week from the commencement
of the absence).
2. The Scheme applies to absences through illness
which commenced on or after the 1st January, 1989
and absences through injury from the 1st May, 1989.
3. Benefit will not be payable in respect of absences
resulting from an injury on duty.
4. Benefit will not be payable where a claim is pending
against a third party.
5. The ex gratia benefit will not apply to the first five
weeks of any period of non effectiveness.
6. A five-week excess period will apply to each
separate period of non-effectiveness.
7. A member claiming benefit under this arrangement
should do so within ten weeks of commencement of
non-effectiveness.
8. Each claim will be accompanied by a Doctor’s
certificate on a form, which will be provided from
this office.
9. Benefit will not be payable in respect of absences
occasioned by alcoholism.
10. The Central Executive Committee reserves the right
to require a claimant for benefit under this
arrangement to submit to an examination by a
medical referee nominated by the Association.
11. Any serious irregularity in the making of a claim or
the making of a false claim for benefit provided for
herein will automatically disqualify the claimant from
all Association’s benefits.
12. The Central Executive Committee reserves the right
to be the final arbiters.
ClAImS ExPERIENCE
€102,859.13 was paid out of Association funds in respect
of illness/injury claims for 2015 – this represents a
decrease of 46.6% compared to payments in respect of
claims for 2014.
The following is an analysis of claims experience for
2015, together with an overview of expenditure since the
introduction of the scheme in 1989 up to the 31st
December, 2015.
Illness Claims 2015 60 claims processed 60,409.13
Illness Claims 2014 3 claims processed 525.00
Illness Claims 2012 1 claim 525.00
Injury Claims 2015 84 claims processed 40,050.00
Injury Claims 2014 4 Claims 1,350.00
OVERVIEw Of SChEmE
1989 €55,083.65
1990 €99,750.41
1991 €119,608.38
1992 €82,001.27
1993 €53,056.10
1994 €55,010.95
1995 €53,573.33
1996 €76,642.96
1997 €65,872.94
1998 €64,642.67
1999 €49,904.96
2000 €35,833.67
2001 €41,833.75
2002 €36,470.44
2003 €44,359.00
2004 €36,070.00
2005 €36,505.00 ->
38th Annual Delegate Conference
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