Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019
1103. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the new automated system for illness benefit payments is fully functioning and working without issues with payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1391/19]
View answerMy Department transferred administration of the Illness Benefit (IB) scheme to its core IT platform in August 2018. Although the system change has worked effectively for over 80% of IB customers, significant difficulties arose following implementation for a number of customers.
My Department took three main steps to resolve the issues impacting on payments. First, we have deployed additional staff to process works and respond to the customer enquiries. Second, we have developed new IT workarounds that address the payment gap issues and to ensure a faster flow-through to payments. Third, we are continuing to review the design rules in the system to afford greater flexibility in processing of claims and certificates.
Payment levels are now maintained at the expected norm,for the past two months. People who are due a payment and whose certificates and claims are in order now receive their payment entitlement promptly. In stating this it is important to note that there are always cases, and were always such cases under the old system, where people's payments are legitimately stopped or paused for a variety of reasons.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
