Scheme for dental care, hearing aids and eye tests expanded to cover more young people

More young people will be eligible for free eye tests, dental check-ups and money towards glasses, contact lenses and dental treatment due to the expansion of the State’s Treatment Benefit Scheme.

People aged 25-28 will need to work for only nine months to avail of these benefits, down from five years. This means young people will need only 39 PRSI contributions, instead of the previous 260.

The scheme includes an annual free dental examination and a grant of €42, which can be used to pay for a scale and polish or clinically necessary periodontal treatment.

Eligible young people will also get a free eyesight test every two years and a grant towards glasses or contact lenses.

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Aural benefits are also included in the scheme, with a grant of €500 per hearing aid and a €100 repair payment available every four years.

The expanded scheme will benefit almost 80,000 people at a cost of €2.8 million per year.

“This change is about ensuring our young workers have easier access to vital supports under the treatment benefit scheme,” said Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys.

The number of PRSI contributions required to qualify has been greatly reduced. “This demonstrates our desire to support our young professionals when it comes to dental, optical or aural treatment,” the Minister said.

The scheme applies to insured employees, self-employed and retired people who have the required number of qualifying PRSI contributions.

The benefits are also available to the dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of those who qualify.