Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
665. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the double week cost-of-living support payment to those on illness benefit; if not, the reason; and the reason that there has been no additional support for those on illness benefit. [54836/22]
View answerThe Autumn Cost of Living double payment is part of a range of measures in Budget 2023 to mitigate the effects of the increased cost of living. The Autumn Cost of Living double payment was payable to recipients of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disablement Benefit and Partial Capacity Benefit.
Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the autumn double payment. In the vast majority of cases, Illness Benefit is a short-term payment for those who are certified by their GP as needing to take time out from their employment. This means there is a constant daily churn in terms of Illness Benefit recipients as people take time off/return to work. In addition, in many cases Illness Benefit is paid directly to the employer where sick pay is paid.
Most recipients of Illness Benefit still have an attachment to the labour force and there is an expectation that they will return to work.
Long-term Illness Benefit recipients who are permanently incapable of work may be eligible for Invalidity Pension (subject to satisfying the relevant medical criteria and social insurance contributions). Those who are substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment arising from a medical condition may be eligible for the means-tested Disability Allowance (subject to the relevant medical criteria). All recipients of both of these payments are eligible for additional benefits including free travel and the household benefits package.
This Department provides Additional Needs Payments under our Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
Illness Benefit recipients will benefit from the €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of this payment from January 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
