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Social Welfare Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 February 2022

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

Questions (498)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

498. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7742/22]

View answer

Written answers

My Department received an application for Illness Benefit from the person concerned on the 30th November 2021.

In order to qualify for a payment under the terms of the Illness Benefit scheme, a person must have paid a prescribed number of reckonable PRSI contributions in the relevant tax years prior to their claim. The person concerned has been paying class S contributions, paid by those who are self employed, in the relevant tax years. Class S contributions are not considered reckonable contributions for Illness Benefit and as such the person concerned does not satisfy the conditions for an Illness Benefit payment.

If the person concerned feels that he is permanently incapable of attending work or expects to be unable to do so for at least a further year, it is open to him to make an application for the long-term illness schemes of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.

If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties meeting his financial commitments he should contact the Department's representative, formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer, at his local Intreo Centre so that an assessment of his circumstances can be carried out to determine whether he might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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