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Social Welfare Benefits

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021

Tuesday, 15 June 2021

Questions (853, 854)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

853. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in the moderate, severe and profound categories of illness who have started their 13-week requalification period for the partial capacity benefit in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30699/21]

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Catherine Connolly

Question:

854. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who successfully transferred from partial capacity benefit to supplementary welfare allowance or another social welfare payment for the duration of their 13-week partial capacity benefit requalification period in each of the months from March 2020 to May 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30700/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 and 854 together.

Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) allows individuals with a reduced capacity for work to return to employment or self-employment. In order to qualify, the person must be in receipt of one of two underlying schemes: Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension.

People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (for a minimum of 6 months) who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition.

The duration a person can be in receipt of PCB is linked to the scheme that they have moved from. In the case of a person previously on Illness Benefit, the maximum duration of the 624 payment days applies, while customers who were previously in receipt of Invalidity Pension may be paid PCB for a maximum of 156 weeks.

Once the above periods have elapsed the customer may make a new application for PCB.

A claimant should apply for PCB before commencing work and must provide the Department with a start date for the employment before payment commences. As part of the approval process, the claimant is assessed by a Medical Assessor (MA) of the Department. The personal rate of payment is based on the medical assessment of the person’s restriction regarding their capacity to work. An MA may determine that the restriction on the person’s capacity to work is mild, moderate, severe or profound. Where the restriction is moderate, severe or profound, the claim is conditionally approved for 50%, 75% or 100% respectively of the person's existing rate of payment. Where a person’s capacity to work is mildly restricted, the claim is refused.

The Department does not have available the data as requested by the Deputy. The following table does, however, provide the breakdown of MA opinions for the period from March 2020 to May 2021. Not all of those assessed take up employment or become a PCB recipient. The Department does not record information regarding level of capacity on the recipient’s claim.

For the period requested, 5% of applicants for PCB who were medically assessed were found to have a mild restriction on their capacity to work; 78% of applicants were found to be moderately affected; 15% were severe, and 2% were profound.

PCB Opinion by Incapacity Level from March 2020 - May 2021

Mild

Moderate

Severe

Profound

Sum:

Sum:

71

1192

226

34

1523

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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