If your company has group income protection with Irish Life, then you already have access to our early intervention support service.
Our internal nursing team will help you and your employees in the early stages of absence management, offering recommendations, rehabilitation assistance and return to work plans where appropriate.
We help support employees who are absent from work. Our team of registered nurses guides them to relevant services and helps them return to work.
Our early intervention support service has a 97% employee satisfaction rating (Irish Life, 2025).
The service is free for all members, covered by your group income protection policy. There is no cost to the employer or the employee for using this service.
All employees covered by the group income protection plan are eligible for referral to early intervention support. Any absences which are likely to be short or medium-term in nature are suitable. Typically, the employee will have been out of work for around 2 weeks when first referred for early intervention support.
Conditions such as mental health problems, back and joint pains, COVID, migraines, etc., are all usually suitable for the early intervention support service.
The employee must be medically certified as unfit to work. They should be well enough to have a phone call with a nurse. The employees must have been made aware of our service and indicated their willingness to participate in it.
Referrals can be made by HR, Occupational Health or Line Managers. We can take referrals at any time within the first 4 weeks of an absence, even from the first day. There is no limit to the number of referrals you can make.
If you are unsure about an employee’s suitability, please contact our nurses for guidance.
Employee stories
“The nurse was extremely knowledgeable, compassionate and helpful as she had a full background check done of suitable services that were available to my specific needs, and it made everything so much easier for me to open up and didn't add extra burden.”
-Irish Life Scheme Member
Early Intervention Support Service
contact us
Contact the nurses on our Early Intervention Helpline team to make a referral or get advice about an absence. The helpline is open Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 12.30pm, and 1.30pm and 4.30pm.
Or you can download a referral form below and email it to the team.
You’ll find helpful ways to explain how the early intervention support service works to an absent employee in our guide for employers. You can also share this employee guide to Early Intervention Support with all members of your group income protection plan.