Gerry O'Sullivan
Question:32 Mr. G. O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will clarify the reason for introducing the regulation which effectively cuts injury benefit by £15 a week; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Injury Benefit.
Until recently, injury benefit and disability benefit were paid at different rates. Both payments are made in respect of short term incapacity for work. Injury benefit is paid where the incapacity is due to an employment-related injury or disease and disability benefit is paid in respect of other illnesses. In both cases, the person's income-maintenance needs are similar. For this reason, this year's Social Welfare Act provided that the two payments would be at the same rate, with effect from 6 April 1992. This affected new claims only; people who were receiving injury benefit at the time of the change did not face any reduction in their payment. Since the change, the rates of disability benefit and injury benefit for the vast majority of recipients have been increased by 5 to 6 per cent which is well above the rate of inflation.
In my view there is no justification for different rates of payment for short term incapacity for work, depending on whether or not the incapacity arises from an accident at work. One of my objectives is to simplify the range of social welfare schemes. This measure is a step in that direction.