asked the Minister for the Public Service if he is aware that civil servants who have to leave the service through illness or injury do not qualify for social welfare benefit afterwards; and if he will clarify the position regarding their entitlements.
Written Answers. - Civil Servants' Social Welfare Entitlements.
830.
Unestablished civil servants are insured for the full range of benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, including occupational injuries benefits. Established civil servants are insured for a much more restricted range of benefits including reduced occupational injuries benefits.
On the specific question of retirement due to illness or injury, the general position in regard to civil servants is as follows.
An established civil servant who retires on grounds of ill-health after at least five years pensionable service qualifies under the civil service Superannuation Code for a lump sum based on actual service to which is added a period of notional service, usually of six 2/3 years. Pension is calculated on the basis of 1/80th of pensionable salary per year of service, including notional service, subject to a maximum of one-half of salary. The lump sum is calculated on the basis of 3/80ths of pensionable salary for each year of service, including notional service, subject to a maximum of one-and-a-half times salary.
An unestablished civil servant who retires on grounds of ill-health qualifies for similar terms except that pension is reduced to take account of any social welfare benefit or pension payable to him.
If the officer's retirement is due to an injury incurred in the actual discharge of his duties, and the injury is specifically attributable to the nature of the duties, ill-health pension can be enhanced, depending on the degree of disability suffered up to a maximum of 5/6ths of salary, inclusive of the annuity value of the lump sum and, in certain exceptional cases, a lump sum of up to £20,000 or, if greater, 3½ times salary, is payable.