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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Questions (493)

Brendan Smith

Question:

493. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports that will be provided to assist persons that have to take time off work to self-isolate in cases in which a family member living in the same household awaits a Covid-19 test result; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that at present some persons have to take annual leave or may receive no income in respect of such days not in work; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that the present necessary and appropriate self-isolation is causing financial difficulties for some persons and families, particularly for those on lower incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28632/20]

View answer

Written answers

Under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1), the Government, having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19, extended the Social Welfare Acts to provide for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with, or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.

The rate of payment of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of COVID-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with COVID-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of COVID-19, the person concerned can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and to reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.

The enhanced rate of Illness Benefit was brought in as a short-term public health measure and is not a long-term income support payment. It is payable for 2 weeks where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of Covid-19 and for up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Certification by a registered medical professional is required to support any claim for the special Covid 19 Illness payment. There are no waiting days in respect of the enhanced illness benefit payment. Only one contribution is required in the four weeks before the claim, thereby making the payment more accessible.

Where a medical practitioner advises a person to remain away from work because an underlying medical condition means they are unable to work safely, then the standard Illness Benefit payment may be made, subject to the conditions of the scheme being satisfied.

The purpose of the enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of COVID-19 is to encourage people to not go to work due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation.

When the enhanced payment was introduced, it was intended for people who were self-isolating or in a medical facility. Subsequently the HSE and the Department of Health introduced another category - for people who were advised to restrict their movements.

According to the HSE, people will need to self-isolate:

- if they have symptoms of COVID-19

- while they wait for a test appointment and test results, if they have symptoms of COVID-19

- if they have had a positive test result for COVID-19

People are advised by the HSE to restrict their movements for 14 days if they:

- are a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19

- live with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19, but feel well

- are being tested as a close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 and don’t have any symptoms

- arrive into Ireland from a country that is not on the COVID-19 green list - this list is reviewed regularly based on advice from officials including public health experts and will be updated if needed

Employers are asked to facilitate remote working where possible – in this situation people should remain on full pay from the employer.

From the outset of COVID-19, many employers will have taken the initiative, in line with subsequent requests from the Government, to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off where required. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of negotiation, compromise and flexibility. Some of the options to be considered for workers with responsibilities that preclude them from working their normal hours in the normal, pre-COVID-19, may include:

- offering paid compassionate leave

- allowing employees to work from home

- altering shifts, so that employees can co-ordinate caring between themselves and partners, or another person

- allowing employees to take or rearrange annual leave

- allowing employees to rearrange parental leave

- allowing employees to take paid time off that can be worked back at a later time etc.

- allowing employees to take unpaid leave until they can return to work full or part-time.

In the event of an employee being told by their employer to go home or stay at home for a period of time without pay they may be entitled to claim the Pandemic Unemployment Payment or Jobseekers Benefit/Allowance. If they are not eligible for those payments, then they may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance.

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