Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 April 2016
42. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person in receipt of a widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension who falls ill is not entitled to illness benefit even though that person pays the required stamp; if this is a barrier to persons returning to work; the specific prohibition in the Social Welfare Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6821/16]
View answerThe social welfare system is designed to support a range of contingencies such as illness, unemployment, old age and widowhood. While it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, a general principle applies whereby even if a person experiences more than one of the contingencies at any one time, he or she receives only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world, and is reflected in social welfare legislation - covering the situation referenced by the deputy.
There is no evidence to suggest that this of itself acts as barrier to persons returning to work.
