Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
193. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if long-Covid is being cited as a condition in medical certification for social welfare payments and supports; and if so, the number of cases there have been; the number at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23744/22]
View answerMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
In March 2020, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 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 of illness benefit, for a limited period. The enhanced rate is €350, with additional payments in respect of dependent adults and children. Over 578,000 claims had been processed by 6 May 2022 – of those, 55% were diagnosed with Covid, 41% were a probable risk of Covid and 3% had made former Covid-19 claims. Almost 550,000 claims have received a payment since its introduction and 2,970 are currently in payment.
The enhanced rate is payable for a maximum of ten weeks for those diagnosed with Covid-19. In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility.
After this time, doctors should certify people according to the primary reason for incapacity for work – this varies greatly among people experiencing long-Covid and may include a wide range of physical and mental health conditions. If they continue to use the code for Covid-19 in the International Classification of Diseases, illness benefit will be paid at the standard rate after the initial period of 10 weeks at the enhanced rate. It is not possible to state how many people have long-Covid. By way of illustration, a person experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder following a period in intensive care may be certified by their doctor for PTSD rather than for Covid-19. Approximately 3% of people who have been on enhanced illness benefit move to standard illness benefit. However, some may have conditions not related to Covid in any way but due to another form of illness. Others may have been on the payment for up to two weeks as being a probable risk of Covid and then developed another separate illness – they may still be recorded as a former claimant of the Covid payment on the Department's IT system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
