Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1247. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will undertake a review of illness benefit to ensure that once an insurance claim has been settled and the illness benefit is repaid to her Department, any credits on the claimant’s Department of Social Protection records are removed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40667/22]
View answerMy department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to an illness or disability.
Illness Benefit is the main income support provided by this department to those who cannot work due to illness and who have the required number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Illness Benefit is payable for two years, depending on continued eligibility. Additional payments for qualified children and qualified adults may also apply.
The Recovery of Benefits and Assistance (RBA) scheme enables my department to recover the value of certain illness and disability related income supports from compensation awards for loss of earnings made to persons as a consequence of personal injuries claims. Illness Benefit is one of the benefits that is recoverable under the RBA scheme. RBA is recovered from the compensator as they are the liable entity.
Payments made by a compensator under the RBA Scheme on foot of an RBA statement represent an amount up to or equivalent to the value of the illness-related payments received by the injured person. It is important to mention, however, that the injured person’s actual illness related payments (e.g. illness benefit) are not being repaid and there is no implication for any refund of tax.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
