Social Welfare Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023

Tuesday, 18 April 2023

Questions (883)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

883. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary No. 289 of 23 March 2023, assuming a person who is working a full-time job in a four-day week has surpassed the three-day waiting period to qualify for illness benefit, if there are guidelines in place to ensure that any calculations made to the payment of their benefit are on the basis of a four-day working week, rather than a five-day working week (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16766/23]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Illness Benefit is paid over a 6-day working week, and excludes Sundays, regardless of how many days or which days a person works. In the scenario outlined in the question, the individual will receive Illness Benefit at a rate of €220 for week one and €220 for week two.  In week three, the individual is certified as unable to work for two out of six working days and will, accordingly, be paid €73.33, or one third of the weekly rate.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.