Treatment Benefit Grant

The Department of Social Protection operate the Treatment Benefit Scheme. Eligible persons and dependant spouses who have full PRSI cover may obtain a grant towards the cost of a hearing aid.

This includes contributory pensioners, invalidity pensioners those on disability benefit and their dependant spouses. (Conditions apply.) The grant is available to qualifying non-medical card and medical cardholders alike, if they obtain a hearing aid privately. Full details of the eligibility conditions for the grant may be obtained from the department website.

Hearing aids may be provided by suppliers who have a contract with the Dept. . Since 27 March 2021, the Department pays the full cost of a hearing aid up to a maximum of €500 (€1,000 for a pair) once every fourth calendar year.

It also pays the full cost of repairs to aids, up to a maximum of €100, once every fourth calendar year.

The Department lays down conditions for standards of professional care for patients qualifying under the scheme. This covers areas such as the requirement to have an office or practice address which is open to patients during normal business hours for rehabilitation and service, the requirement to have professional indemnity insurance and other standards of care are also laid down.

The contract also has control and monitoring provisions with a formal structure for dealing with complaints. Complaints about lack of service and rehabilitation may be addressed under this procedure.

Further information on the Treatment Benefit grant is available on the Dept of Social Protection Treatment Benefit Website