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Social Welfare Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Questions (430)

Richard Bruton

Question:

430. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to cases in which medically vulnerable persons who have completed the period of entitlement to illness benefit but although medically fit to work, would be exposed to unacceptable risk while Covid-19 remains a significant threat and who are unable to obtain income support such as a case (details supplied). [3114/22]

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Written answers

Subject to satisfying certain PRSI contribution criteria, Illness Benefit may be paid to those who are certified as medically unfit to attend work. The payment can be made for a maximum period of 1 or 2 years depending on the level of PRSI contributions made.

When a person is approaching the date from which their entitlement is due to expire they receive a letter advising them that this is due to happen along with details of the options available to them going forward.

Where the person feels that they are permanently incapable of attending work or expect to be unable to do so for at least a further year, it is open to them to make an application for the long-term illness schemes of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.

Where the person is deemed fit to return to work or expects to do so in the short-term, but they cannot find work, it is open to them to make an application for Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The Government’s guaranteed minimum income scheme is the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. The scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to those who have insufficient income to meet their basic essential financial commitments. The scheme is means tested and is not available to those who have full-time work available to them. Applications for assistance under the terms of the SWA scheme can be made by contacting the Department’s representative, formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer, at the local Intreo Centre. This officer will carry out a comprehensive review of an individual’s circumstances to determine whether they qualify for assistance under the SWA scheme.

In the case of the person identified by the Deputy my Department’s records show that the process outlined above was followed. When advised that entitlement to Illness Benefit was due to expire they applied for Invalidity Pension. The application was unsuccessful as they did not meet the medical conditions for the scheme.

The person concerned subsequently applied for Partial Capacity Benefit which is a scheme that allows those in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension for prescribed periods and who satisfy medical conditions, to retain a portion of their Social Welfare payment while returning to work or to taking up new employment. The person concerned advised my Department that they were due to return to work from 13 September 2021. At that time they were no longer in receipt of Illness Benefit and accordingly the PCB application was not allowed and they were advised accordingly.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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