Arthur Spring (Kerry North-West Limerick, Labour)
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214. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is necessary for an applicant for a medical card who is in receipt of a farm assist payment to provide a letter from revenue with the application stating that the applicant is not liable for tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49756/13]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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A person making an application for a medical card/GP visit card is subject to an assessment of eligibility in accordance with the Medical Card/GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines. The guidelines include a description of the documentary evidence that an applicant must provide in relation to each income type that an applicant receives. An assessment of means, essential to a determination of an applicant's eligibility to be approved for a medical card or GP visit card, cannot be concluded in the absence of this required proof.

The National Assessment Guidelines state that, for the purposes of an assessment of eligibility for a medical card/GP visit card, a person in receipt of an income from self employment must provide either:

- a Revenue Notice of Assessment as proof of income from this source,

Or

- if Revenue have determined that an income return for tax purposes is not necessary, a Non Liable Notification Letter issued by Revenue, in addition to a statement of the amount of income being received from this source.

A “Non Liable Notification Letter” will typically issue by Revenue in cases where a very low income is being returned from the self-employment activity concerned. Such determination can only be made by Revenue when an income return is made to Revenue and an assessment of tax liability is conducted based on the return.

A self-employed person should complete and submit a Revenue Form 11 in order to make a return of income for assessment by the office of the Revenue Commissioners. For assistance with completing a Revenue Form 11, thelocal offices of the Revenue Commissioners can be contacted or the website accessed.

The HSE local health offices can be contacted by persons for assistance in completing their medical card/GP visit card application form or to have any aspect regarding the process of assessing eligibility for a medical card/GP visit card clarified. In addition, a help and information Callsave phone line 1890 252 919 is available to the public. It is advised that anyone concerned that they may lose their eligibility to a medical card because of difficulty in providing information requested for an assessment review contact the helpline and explain the circumstances.

The HSE will give every assistance to persons contacting their offices, in advising and facilitating them to meet the requirements to have their eligibility fully assessed. Any person, who is the subject of a review assessment, is engaging with the HSE and has undertaken to provide the information requested within an agreed reasonable period of time, will have eligibility extended for the period agreed. This will allow the applicant time to provide the information required and so allow an assessment be conducted based on this information.