Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
554. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has put in place measures to ensure that a person whose entitlement to illness benefit and similar has expired due to the lapsing of a time limit as a result of the pandemic-related suspension of health services continues to be entitled to receive the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11711/21]
View answerThe Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill. Customers must be covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI), satisfy the PRSI conditions and provide a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from a medical practitioner.
Illness benefit is payable for one year (312 days excluding Sundays) in respect of people with a minimum of 104 contributions and for two years (624 days excluding Sundays) for people with a minimum of 260 contributions, subject to meeting the other medical and contribution eligibility criteria for the scheme, as set out in legislation.
Entitlement to Illness Benefit is not contingent on the nature of the illness/disability or on the availability of health services, but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
A person whose Illness Benefit expires and who is unable to work may be eligible for other payments:
- Invalidity Pension is a weekly payment to people who cannot work because of a long-term illness or disability, who are likely to be permanently incapable of work and who satisfy the PRSI conditions.
- Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for people who have a disability that is expected to last for a year or more.
- Supplementary Welfare Allowance is available to people who are ill, who do not qualify for other payments and who have insufficient means to meet their needs.
A person may requalify for Illness Benefit if they return to work, and pay a minimum of 13 reckonable PRSI contributions. (All other qualifying conditions must also be satisfied.)
